European Union suspends Georgia's accession process
Category
World
Publication date

European Union suspends Georgia's accession process

Georgia and EU

After the summit of the European Council, EU leaders decided to suspend Georgia's entry into the economic and political bloc.

Points of attention

  • EU leaders have decided to freeze defence support for Georgia and cut direct aid, shifting it to civil society.
  • The government of Georgia adopted a billon "foreign agents", which became an obstacle to the start of negotiations on joining the EU.
  • Despite the suspension of the process, hopes for further expansion of the EU remain, but Georgia's fate remains unclear.

The process of Georgia's integration into the EU can be resumed after the October elections

The EU Ambassador to Georgia, Pawel Herczynski, discussed it at the international conference in Tbilisi.

According to him, the EU decided to freeze 30 million euros, which are intended to support Georgia in the field of defence.

This is only the first step; there will be others. We will reduce our direct aid to the government of Georgia and try to shift this direct aid to civil society and the media. This was announced after a meeting of foreign ministers in Luxembourg.

Pawel Herczynski

Pawel Herczynski

Ambassador of the European Union

He also noted that it is still unclear whether the EU enlargement process will affect Georgia.

Enlargement is one of the most important challenges facing the EU and I sincerely hope that during the next 5 years of work of the newly elected leadership, there will be a big wave of further enlargement of the block. As for Georgia, it is still unclear whether it will be part of the next big wave of EU enlargement. I sincerely hope that it will be so, and after the October elections, we will resume our work and manage to achieve that Georgia becomes part of the further expansion of the EU, — said the ambassador.

Herczynski noted that Georgia's accession to the European Union is currently suspended.

This was stated very clearly by the leaders of the European Union after the summit of the European Council. I cannot imagine that this year Georgia will move forward, take steps, because the EU leaders decided to freeze the accession process. Now they are patiently waiting for greater clarity from the Georgian government, the diplomat explained.

What preceded the suspension of the process of Georgia's accession to the EU

Georgia applied to join the EU in March 2022, weeks after Moscow launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and gained candidate status in December 2023.

The next step was to be the recommendation of the European Commission to the governments of the EU countries to start negotiations on Georgia's accession to the EU, but this depended on the implementation of a number of reforms.

Brussels made it clear: if the bill on "foreign agents" is passed, there will be no recommendations. And it was passed — on June 3, the speaker of the Georgian parliament signed the law, despite the veto of the country's president, Salome Zurabishvili.

This bill is an analogue of the Russian law on "foreign agents".

Category
Ukraine
Publication date

A tool of disinformation and manipulation. How and why TikTok is a threat to Ukraine

A tool of disinformation and manipulation. How and why TikTok is a threat to Ukraine
Source:  InfoLight․UA

On January 19, 2025, a law officially came into force in the United States banning the use of TikTok. According to the experience of other countries, the social network is used not only as an entertainment platform, but also as a tool for disinformation and manipulation.

Points of attention

  • TikTok is actively used to undermine mobilization processes and spread false narratives in Ukraine.
  • The platform works as an algorithmic system that learns from users' preferences, displaying manipulative content.
  • It is necessary to develop mechanisms for monitoring and responding to the threats posed by the use of TikTok and similar platforms to Ukraine.
  • The US banned TikTok due to national security concerns and risks of data leaks to the Chinese government.

Why TikTok is dangerous for Ukraine

The publication provides examples of international experience in using TikTok as a tool for disinformation and manipulation.

In particular, during the 2024 Romanian presidential election, TikTok became the main channel for promoting pro-Russian candidate Călin Georgescu. Thanks to manipulative content, he won in the first round, but the results were annulled due to detected interference.

In Romania, TikTok was used together with Telegram to coordinate actions, spread fake hashtags, and carry out tasks.

If we talk about threats to Ukraine, then TikTok is actively used to undermine mobilization processes.

Also, the identified networks of accounts spread false narratives, such as exaggerating the losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine or the injustice of mobilization.

For example, in 2023, the platform became a tool for launching fake campaigns, in particular "Maidan 24.03".

TikTok works as an algorithmic system that learns from users’ preferences, showing manipulative content to those who are willing to believe it. This makes the platform extremely dangerous, as fake content is difficult to track.

In June 2024, a petition appeared on the website of the Cabinet of Ministers demanding to restrict or ban TikTok in Ukraine. It was proposed to ban the use of the application on the devices of government officials and military personnel.

TikTok, like any platform controlled by states unfriendly to Ukraine, carries serious risks. Tools of disinformation and manipulation can influence public opinion, mobilization, and even political processes. Ukraine needs to develop mechanisms to monitor such threats and respond to them, drawing on international experience.

TikTok Ban in the US. What is Known

On January 19, 2025, a law officially came into effect in the United States banning the use of TikTok.

The move follows legal efforts to force Chinese company ByteDance to sell its US-based platform over national security concerns, with the US Supreme Court upholding the decision, citing risks of data leaks to the Chinese government.

TikTok has now been removed from the Apple and Google app stores. Oracle has begun the process of shutting down servers that served American user data.

Users receive notifications about the platform being unavailable.

Despite the ban, US President-elect Donald Trump has said he may lift it 90 days after taking office. Trump stressed that the issue is still under consideration, but he is open to discussing the platform's resumption.

Amid the expected ban of TikTok in the US, Chinese social network RedNote (Xiaohongshu) has shown rapid growth in popularity in the US market. The app, which topped the download rankings on the US App Store, tripled its downloads in a week, attracting 700,000 new users in just 48 hours.

Why is it dangerous to use Telegram?

Telegram messenger does not protect users' personal data and even stores deleted messages. Journalists from online.ua tried to find out whether personal information of Ukrainians could end up in the hands of the FSB.

In addition, Telegram has been repeatedly accused of spreading hate, pornography, and drug and smuggling trafficking. The messenger is used with impunity by terrorist groups such as ISIS.

Category
Politics
Publication date

Germany proposes another scenario for ending Russia's war against Ukraine

Wagenknecht again criticizes aid to Ukraine
Source:  Tagesschau

Sarah Wagenknecht, leader of the German far-left party Sarah Wagenknecht Alliance, has begun cynically arguing that an immediate halt to arms supplies to Ukraine could stop the war.

Points of attention

  • Sarah Wagenknecht thinks she knows how to stop Russia.
  • The politician criticizes aid to Ukraine and opposes the introduction of German soldiers into its territory for a peaceful settlement.
  • German Chancellor Olaf Scholz promises to send Ukraine additional aid of 3 billion euros through new borrowing.

Wagenknecht again criticizes aid to Ukraine

We should offer Russia an immediate halt to arms supplies if Russia agrees to a ceasefire on the current front line and the start of peace talks.

Sarah Wagenknecht

Sarah Wagenknecht

Leader of the German far-left party "Sarah Wagenknecht Alliance"

A German politician, often called “Putin’s girlfriend,” began cynically lying that the arms supply had not improved Ukraine’s position.

Sarah Wagenknecht is outraged by the fact that Vice Chancellor Robert Gabeke and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius have called for a further €3 billion in aid.

In addition, she opposed the introduction of German soldiers into Ukraine to ensure a peaceful settlement.

Ukraine needs security guarantees, but they must be provided by neutral states.

According to her, we are talking about Brazil, China, India and Turkey.

Why Scholz is blocking aid to Ukraine

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he rejects all accusations. He said he should take care of Germany, not just Ukraine.

The German leader added that he is ready to send Ukraine an additional 3 billion euros in aid, provided that the funds are obtained through "net new borrowing."

As Scholz noted, he will not support budget cuts for the sake of Ukraine.

This is the path that almost all the countries around us have taken. ... Some people think that we should finance this by cutting pensions, by cutting transfers to local governments, by investing less in roads and railways, by providing less support to the economy.

Olaf Scholz

Olaf Scholz

Chancellor of Germany

According to him, it is the Germans who will have to decide how to finance further support for Ukraine.

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