TBILISI (Realist English). June 2026 has become a month of harsh political signals from Brussels and Tbilisi’s attempts to maintain balance. The European Parliament adopted resolutions on Georgia and Turkey, noting the lack of progress on the path to EU membership.
While criticism was being voiced in Strasbourg, Tbilisi, in a desperate attempt to restore dialogue with Brussels, turned to Luxembourg and Belgium for mediation.
European Parliament: ‘Georgian Dream’ does not want reforms
On June 17, the European Parliament in Strasbourg heard reports and adopted resolutions assessing Georgia’s and Turkey’s progress towards EU accession. The verdict was severe: MEPs warned of “ongoing backsliding from democratic principles” in both countries and called for reforms. The resolution on Georgia, adopted by 436 votes in favour, 145 against and 47 abstentions, clearly outlined Brussels’ position.
Further EU engagement with the Georgian authorities must depend solely on whether the government changes its “anti-European policy.”
MEPs expressed regret that the ruling Georgian Dream party had taken “no steps to change the negative trends.” The resolution, adopted by 381 votes in favour, 107 against and 171 abstentions, notes that “EU enlargement policy is currently gaining momentum, but Turkey is missing this opportunity due to the lack of democratic reforms.”
Notably, the European Parliament reaffirmed its position of non-recognition of the legitimacy of the Georgian parliament and the president appointed by it. The document contains direct criticism of the authorities: “The Georgian Dream regime continues to destroy democratic institutions, silence independent media and hold one of the highest numbers of political prisoners in the region.”
In conclusion, the European Parliament called for the introduction of coordinated EU sanctions against those responsible for repression and state capture.
Tbilisi appeals to Brussels: ‘We are ready to discuss everything’
Almost simultaneously with the harsh statements from Strasbourg, the Georgian authorities made a desperate attempt to establish dialogue with Brussels. Nikoloz Samkharadze, Chairman of the Georgian Parliament’s Foreign Relations Committee, approached the Foreign Ministry and Parliament of Luxembourg with a request for mediation to restore dialogue with the European Union.
During his visit to Luxembourg, the Georgian parliamentarian said: “We are ready to resume dialogue on all issues, including those that are subject to criticism, in particular the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence, which became the formal reason for the suspension of dialogue.” The Georgian side also made a similar request to Belgian parliamentarians.
However, as the publication Vzglyad notes, dialogue was suspended by Brussels in 2024 precisely because of the adoption of the law on “foreign agents” and the “alleged democratic backsliding in Tbilisi.”
Central Bank freezes rate amid inflationary shock
On June 17, the National Bank of Georgia decided to keep the key rate at 8.25%. The regulator noted that annual inflation in May stood at 5.7%, significantly exceeding the 3% target. The main reason for the price increase was the rise in energy costs amid global market volatility and supply disruptions.
The Central Bank expects the impact of the external inflationary shock to gradually ease, with average inflation in 2026 projected at 4.9%. If inflationary risks persist, the regulator is prepared to continue a moderate rate hike.
Despite inflationary pressures, Georgia’s economy maintains high growth rates: in April growth was 6.2%, and the average for the first four months of the year was 8.3%.
Serbia and Georgia: ‘brotherly peoples’ strengthen ties
Amid cooling relations with Brussels, Tbilisi is intensifying cooperation with Belgrade. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, making his first official visit to Georgia in more than 30 years, called Serbs and Georgians “brotherly peoples.”
During talks with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, the sides discussed trade and economic cooperation. Kobakhidze stated that Georgia is ready to deepen partnership with Serbia and sign a free trade agreement. Vučić, for his part, stressed that trade turnover between the countries in the first quarter of 2026 grew by 36.4%. The Serbian president also announced the upcoming opening of a Serbian embassy in Tbilisi.
Residence permits for foreigners become a luxury
Georgia intends to sharply tighten the rules for granting residence permits to foreigners. The Ministry of Internal Affairs has prepared a draft of amendments to migration legislation. Under the document, rules for obtaining residence permits for foreign students and spouses of Georgian citizens will be significantly tightened.
Student residence permits will only be issued to adults upon admission to an accredited educational institution. The document may be cancelled for academic failure or violation of employment conditions. In addition, it is proposed to introduce a separate type of residence permit for foreign spouses of Georgian citizens, and sham marriage is to be made a criminal offence.
Since October 2025, Georgia has begun tightening its migration policy. From March 1, 2026, foreigners are required to obtain a work permit, even for remote employment. According to statistics, in 2024, 250 thousand foreigners permanently resided in Georgia, accounting for 6.6% of the population.