On December 16, 2024, during a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, Hungary and Slovakia vetoed proposed sanctions against Georgian officials involved in the repression of pro-European protests. Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó criticized the EU's actions, claiming they were hypocritical and motivated by the electoral success of a conservative party in Georgia.
The sanctions, proposed by EU's foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas, aimed at officials linked to violent crackdowns on demonstrations that erupted following the Georgian government's suspension of EU accession talks. Kallas described the situation in Georgia as moving in the wrong direction for a candidate country.
Hungary's stance, aligned with the ruling 'Georgian Dream' party, was firmly against any restrictive measures. Szijjártó stated, 'If such a proposal is officially made, we will certainly veto it.' Slovakia's position was less vocal but similarly opposed.
According to EU rules, all sanctions require unanimous approval, making the combined vetoes significant. The proposal by Kallas, which has not been publicly disclosed, follows increasing tensions in Georgia, where violent protests have led to numerous arrests and accusations of human rights violations.
In a related development, the Baltic states have independently imposed sanctions on Georgian officials, further complicating the situation. The EU's inability to reach consensus on sanctions reflects deeper geopolitical divides within the union regarding the approach to Georgia and its governance.