Normative de-Europeanization in Georgia: understanding the halt in EU accession

The effective suspension of Georgia’s EU candidacy in December 2024 by the Georgian Dream (GD) government marks the culmination of a prolonged and politically managed process of de-Europeanization. While this trajectory emerged during GD’s third term (2020–2024), it has intensified significantly under its fourth mandate. Drawing on primary sources and interviews with civil society actors, this article identifies key markers of de-Europeanization, including contested elections and weakened electoral oversight, the contraction of civic space, selective disengagement from EU accession commitments, the rollback of fundamental rights and the normalization of relations with Russia – all occurring alongside continued rhetorical commitment to EU membership. By tracing concrete policy developments, the article demonstrates a shift towards a substantive and institutionalized form of normative de-Europeanization in Georgia underpinning the current EU-Georgia impasse.