Georgian President Salome Zourabisvili’s veto of the controversial “foreign influence” law gives the government “time for deeper reflection”, European Council President Charles Michel said today.

“I call on all Georgian politicians and leaders to take advantage of this window of opportunity and ensure that Georgia remains on the European path supported by the people,” Michel wrote on social media X.

“In its present form, the law is not in line with the values ​​and course of the EU“, he repeated.

The head of EU diplomacy, Josep Borrell, on behalf of the European Commission, had already urged Georgia to “withdraw” this law, which is considered to be against the EU’s “values” and “fundamental rules”.

“I continue to closely follow the development of the situation in Georgia,” Charles Michel added.

Pro-European President Zourabishvili, who is at odds with the government, announced today that she had vetoed the “foreign influence” law that has sparked mass protests in the Caucasus country.

However, it is a highly symbolic veto, as the ruling Georgian Dream party, which tabled the bill, says it has enough votes in parliament to override the president’s veto.

Critics of the law, which was passed on Tuesday, see it as an attempt to push Georgia away from Europe and towards Russia.

NATO, the European Commission and the UN condemned this initiative of the Georgian government.

The new law requires every NGO and every media outlet that receives more than 20% of its funding from abroad to be registered as an “organization that pursues the interests of a foreign power” and to be subject to administrative control.

Georgia, a former Soviet republic, is officially a candidate for membership of the European Union from December 2023 and also aspires to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.