Georgian FM questions EU Commission’s evaluation standards

Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili on Monday commented on a recent European Commission report, following the decision by the Council of the European Union to remove sections on corruption and human rights from the assessment documents on Ukraine and Moldova.

In her remarks, Botchorishvili noted that the move reflects a broader pattern in the European Commission’s approach to evaluations, adding that during Georgia’s assessment process, topics in which the country had demonstrated clear success and held a stronger position compared to others were excluded.

“For the same reasons that issues in which Georgia is genuinely successful and clearly ahead of other countries were removed during Georgia’s assessment, the European Commission now prefers to remain silent on those areas where certain countries likely face alarming situations. In these directions, the Commission chooses not to make an assessment”, the FM said.

She stressed that such an approach does not align with the standards by which the European Commission has operated and should operate, as its assessments form the foundation of future EU policy.

“Flaws, mistakes, or misguided directions in EU policy are largely based on precisely these kinds of incorrect assessments and orientations that we are witnessing today”, Botchorishvili concluded.