Georgia and the EU: Faraway, So Shut!

“Georgia belongs to the EU, and the folks of Georgia belong within the EU,” mentioned Annalena Baerbock in her speech throughout her go to to Tbilisi in March of this yr. She expressed her assist for Georgia’s European Union candidate standing. The target of this journey by the German Overseas Minister was to advertise direct change between the 2 international locations, deepen cooperation, and assist Georgia in its strategy to the EU and NATO, in addition to within the essential reforms.

After Georgia obtained a rejection for candidate standing from the EU Fee final yr, the go to was of serious significance and generated nice hope among the many Georgian inhabitants that this time they might achieve taking steps in direction of the EU.

Who needs to hitch the EU? And why Georgia? 

In accordance with numerous research, nearly all of Georgians wish to be a part of the EU. A ballot carried out by the Worldwide Republican Institute (IRI) in March revealed that 89% of the inhabitants helps EU membership, and 80% additionally want to be a part of NATO. This want is expressed by Georgians in numerous conditions, such because the protests in March towards the “Agent Regulation,” which aimed to label media and organizations funded by Western sources as brokers.

Moreover, throughout one of many largest demonstrations of the earlier yr in June, the place an unusually excessive variety of demonstrators participated (estimated between 120,000 and 160,000), the slogan “Residence to Europe” was chanted to protest towards the rejection of EU candidate standing.

Final Might, the daughter of Sergei Lavrov, the Russian Overseas Minister, visited Georgia to attend a marriage of family. This led to protests and resulted within the cancellation of the deliberate celebration after the marriage, which was purported to happen close to Tbilisi. Through the demonstration, the state of affairs escalated between the police and activists, resulting in the arrest of each opposition politicians and demonstrators. The go to by Lavrov’s household and the demonstration adopted the resumption of economic flights between Tbilisi and Moscow, which have been permitted by the Georgian aspect. This, in flip, sparked protests. 

Since 2019, there had been a flight ban imposed by Vladimir Putin after a Russian MP visited the Georgian Parliament, triggering mass protests. Moreover, Putin additionally introduced the lifting of visa necessities for Georgian residents, permitting them to remain in Russia for 90 days (much like EU international locations, the place they’ve been capable of journey visa-free for 90 days since 2017). Nevertheless, these selections might as soon as once more jeopardize Georgia’s attainment of EU candidate standing. 

On 29 Might of this yr, the EU despatched a diplomatic notice to the Georgian authorities expressing considerations relating to the resumption of flights with Russia. EU Ambassador Paweł Herczyński expressed the EU’s remorse over the Georgian authorities’s determination to just accept direct flights with Russia, emphasizing that it contradicts the place of the 27 member states. This isn’t the primary time that EU international locations have introduced a demarche in direction of Georgia. This already occurred in February 2023 in reference to the imprisonment of Georgia’s third president, Mikheil Saakashvili.

One in twelve priorities fulfilled

For the previous yr, Georgia has been obligated to meet twelve priorities advisable by the EU Fee in June 2022. These priorities embody numerous modifications and reforms in numerous areas, together with judicial reform, de-oligarchization, combating organized crime, enhancing the media panorama, addressing political polarization, and contemplating impartial people within the appointment of a brand new Public Defender (Ombudsperson). 

In accordance with a doc compiled by a number of NGOs, Georgia has totally met just one out of those twelve priorities and has largely fulfilled solely two, whereas 9 factors stay problematic. The Georgian authorities has restricted time left because the European Fee will launch a correct enlargement report within the fall. Rikard Jozwiak, the editor from the European Bureau of Radio Liberty, states that the European Fee helps the advice to grant Georgia candidate standing this yr.

The one resolution

For Georgia and its inhabitants, the candidate standing and accession to the EU and NATO are usually not only a want however the one resolution for the safety of the nation and its residents. It’s well-known that 20% of Georgian territory is occupied by Russia, posing a critical problem to the nation’s safety. 

For the reason that battle in Ukraine, EU and NATO membership has gained a fair larger and extra important function for the Georgian folks. As well as, since declaring independence, Georgia has actively pursued integration into the EU. This European orientation is enshrined in Georgia’s structure, highlighting the nation’s pro-Western course.