Borrell: Moldova making progress on path to EU, Georgia digressing from it

BRUSSELS. Oct 15 (Interfax) - Moldova has made significant progress on its path toward joining the European Union, while Georgia, on the contrary, has digressed from this path, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and European Commission Vice President Josep Borrell said on Monday.

"Moldova is making significant progress on the European Union path," Borrell said at a press conference following an EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg on Monday.

As concerns Georgia, Borrell said it was "a more black picture."

"The [Georgian] ruling party's recent actions, statements and electoral promises take the country away from the European path and signals a shift towards authoritarianism," he said.

Considering this, Georgia's integration into the EU "is de facto halted," he said.

Moldova is to hold a presidential election and a referendum on joining the EU on October 20. Georgia is to hold a parliamentary election on October 26.

Borrell had said last week that the Georgian government was implementing legislation "further derailing the country from its EU path."