Georgian Parliament official: recent trajectory of Euronest Parliamentary Assembly raises serious concerns regarding its adherence to foundational principles

Levan Makhashvili, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament’s Committee on European Integration, on Monday addressed an open letter to the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, noting that the recent trajectory of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly raises serious concerns regarding its adherence to the foundational principles and objectives enshrined in the Euronest PA’s Constituent Act and the Joint Declaration of the Prague Eastern Partnership Summit.

In a letter, Makhashvili further highlighted that the Georgian Parliament’s delegation had refrained from participating in the 12th Ordinary Session of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly in Yerevan.

The Chair strongly urged the leadership of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly to reflect on these concerns and to recommit to the Assembly’s founding principles.

“The recent trajectory of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly raises serious concerns regarding its adherence to the foundational principles and objectives enshrined in the Euronest PA’s Constituent Act and the Joint Declaration of the Prague Eastern Partnership Summit. Genuine multilateral dialogue once widely shared by the Euronest PA participants is now unfortunately a distant history”, he said.

“We are increasingly concerned by the conduct of certain Members of the European Parliament involved in the work of the Euronest PA, as well as the European Parliament as a whole, whose hostile rhetoric and actions towards Georgia contradict the principles of partnership and mutual respect that this platform is meant to uphold. Intentionally distorted and false political statements have increasingly become a common characteristic of MEPs who prefer their political affiliates in Georgia, charged in criminal offences, over facts and evidence, and more importantly, over the will of the Georgian people”, Makhashvili continued.

The official further added that the Georgian society had seen these MEPs joining the protest rallies in front of the Georgian Parliament, exceeding the frames of parliamentary diplomacy.

“Certain Members of European Parliament, who represent EP in Euronest PA, have made the statements and social media posts encouraging public unrest, radicalisation and violence in our country, whereas resolutions and reports of EP and Euronest PA on Georgia continue to disregard the democratic will of the Georgian people”, he pointed out.

Makhashvili further expressed his deep concern over the decision to extend Euronest PA invitations to a number of individuals, labeled as “civil society”, despite the fact that they have been involved in, or supportive of, actions aimed at rejecting elections, undermining legitimate democratic institutions and contributing to recent attempted overthrow of government in Georgia.

“Instead of clearly distancing itself from such actions and the violence associated with them, the Assembly’s current approach grants legitimacy to actors whose agendas are inconsistent with democratic principles. Thus, by granting these individuals a platform, the Euronest normalises and even encourages anti-democratic behaviour, and facilitates the whitewashing of violent or radical political agendas. Such outcome is entirely at odds with the core values of democracy, the rule of law, dialogue, and peace that this institution is meant to safeguard”, he added.

Makhashvili emphasised that the fact that the majority of partner countries did not participate in the Euronest PA “should serve as a serious indication” that something was rotten in the state of EP’s current approach, and stressed that “it must reflect on whether its present path truly strengthens regional cooperation or burns the partnership bridges down”.

The Chair further noted that its over-politicised approach undermined the credibility of the Assembly and the integrity of the broader partnership between the European Union and its associated states.

“It was with this background that the Georgian Parliament’s delegation refrained from participating in the 12th Ordinary Session of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly in Yerevan. We strongly urge the leadership of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly to reflect on these concerns and to recommit to the Assembly’s founding principles. Only through such reflection and renewal can the Euronest PA truly fulfil its mission and continue to serve as a credible platform for the Eastern Partnership and its participating nations”, he concluded.