Berlin [Germany], December 31: The German government is limiting its support for Georgia due to the country's plans to suspend negotiations on joining the European Union.
Cooperation with Georgian authorities has been scaled back, a spokeswoman for the Foreign Office in Berlin said on Monday. This also applies to projects that have been suspended. According to the Ministry of Development, projects totalling 237 million euros ($246 million) have been halted. The aim of the cooperation was to support Georgia on its European path, the ministry spokeswoman said, adding that this was unfortunately no longer possible with the current government.
The aim was not to stop all cooperation, she noted. Projects should continue if the benefits for the mainly pro-European population outweigh the disadvantages, and rapprochement with Europe continues to be supported. For weeks, thousands of people in Georgia have been demonstrating for a return to the pro-EU course and a rerun of October's parliamentary election, which saw the nationalist ruling Georgian Dream party declare itself the winner.
The party, founded by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, had put EU accession negotiations on hold until 2028.
Source: Qatar Tribune
