Source: European Parliament
The EU has been one of the largest supporters of civil society in Georgia since its independence and remains firmly committed to supporting civil society and independent media in the country.
Since last summer, the EU has withheld over EUR 120 million worth of bilateral assistance to the Georgian authorities. These funds are currently being redistributed within the Eastern Partnership region based on strategic priorities.
For Georgia, the Commission tripled its support to civil society organisations (CSOs) and independent media in 2024, i.e. from EUR 5 million originally planned to EUR 15 million.
This additional funding will come from 2024 allocation as well as reallocation of existing funds and complements the ongoing support for civil society of around EUR 50 million. The Commission is in the process of implementing this support.
The implementation of financial assistance for civil society and independent media is closely coordinated with Member States and like-minded partners on the ground.
The Commission will continue to closely monitor and take into account the impact of the latest legislative initiatives on CSOs and independent media. Further support will be made available from 2025-2027 programming funds.