The EU's External Action Service published a new report on Georgia's implementation of the Association Agreement on August 13, stating that the Association Agreement has been a driving force for reforms and that, overall, the alignment of national legislation with EU law under the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) is progressing.

Nonetheless, the report highlighted challenges in 2021 that "threatened to undermine the country's democratic foundations," such as restrictions on the functioning of the parliament after the 2020 parliamentary elections; deficiencies observed in local self-government elections; homophobic violence on July 5–6, 2021, etc. The document also says, "Georgia's rate of compliance with EU declarations and Council decisions decreased from 62% in 2020 to 53% in 2021. This percentage dropped to 42% in the first half of 2022."

The paper, based on the OSCE/ODIHR report, said that the 2020 parliamentary elections were held in a competitive environment and that, overall, fundamental freedoms were respected. "However, the conduct of the elections was affected by allegations of voter pressure and the blurring of lines between the ruling party and the state throughout the pre-election campaign and on election day, which reduced public confidence in some aspects of the process." "The opposition parties questioned the legitimacy of the elections and refused to take mandates."

"Reforms in the judicial system have stalled over the past year and even regressed in key areas," the report said. The document also states that despite the government's repeated commitment to increase the independence, accountability and quality of the judicial system, including the adoption of changes in the selection process before the appointment of judges, 11 judges were appointed to the Supreme Court in 2021.

The paper also emphasises the April 19, 2021 deal facilitated by the EU between the ruling party and the opposition, which "ended the opposition boycott and defined an agreed way ahead for critical reforms." Nevertheless, it is also underlined that the Georgian Dream departed from the deal in July 2021, while the National Movement only joined after the ruling party withdrew.