The European Council has accused Georgia of taking a course that “jeopardizes” its path to membership of the bloc and “de facto halts the accession process”.

The post-Soviet country formally applied for EU membership in March 2022, but recently adopted a number of policies that have drawn outrage from Western nations – including a mandatory register for NGOs and media organizations that receive foreign funding.

EU foreign relations chief Josep Borrell directly linked Georgia’s chances of joining the union with the outcome of the October 26 general election, when discussing the situation at a press conference after a European Council meeting on Thursday.

”The next election will be the moment of truth and the Georgian people will have to decide which way they want to go: towards Europe or getting away from Europe,” he said, adding that “it is the future of the country which is at stake.”