Georgia’s Parliament Speaker Accuses EU of Lobbying Hypocrisy Over Transparency Rules

A bold accusation shakes Georgia’s ties with Brussels. Is the EU undermining its own transparency standards while pushing for reforms?

, and Administrator

2025 November 30 . 3:39 AM

1 min read

In this image we can see a glass with some liquid. In the background of the image there is a blur... — In this image we can see a glass with some liquid. In the background of the image there is a blur background.

Georgia’s Parliament Speaker Accuses EU of Lobbying Hypocrisy Over Transparency Rules

Shalva Papuashvili, Speaker of Georgia’s Parliament, has accused the EU of hypocrisy over lobbying transparency rules. He claims Brussels funds organizations to influence Georgian laws while criticising Tbilisi’s own regulations on foreign influence.

Papuashvili demanded that the EU halt what he called 'hidden funding' for lobbying in Georgia. He insisted that existing Georgian laws already require full transparency for any group engaged in lobbying, including NGOs and civil society organizations.

Papuashvili’s remarks highlight tensions between Tbilisi and Brussels over lobbying regulations. The dispute centres on whether EU-backed funding aligns with Georgia’s transparency laws. No direct evidence of Brussels financing lobbying groups has been made public so far.