Georgia and the EU: Faraway, So Close!

“Georgia belongs to the EU, and the people of Georgia belong in the EU,” said Annalena Baerbock in her speech during her visit to Tbilisi in March of this year. She expressed her support for Georgia’s European Union candidate status. The objective of this trip by the German Foreign Minister was to promote direct exchange between the two countries, deepen cooperation, and support Georgia in its approach to the EU and NATO, as well as in the necessary reforms.

After Georgia received a rejection for candidate status from the EU Commission last year, the visit was of significant importance and generated great hope among the Georgian population that this time they would succeed in taking steps towards the EU.

Who wants to join the EU? And why Georgia? 

According to various studies, the majority of Georgians want to join the EU. A poll conducted by the International Republican Institute (IRI) in March revealed that 89% of the population supports EU membership, and 80% also wish to join NATO. This desire is expressed by Georgians in various situations, such as the protests in March against the “Agent Law,” which aimed to label media and organizations funded by Western sources as agents.

Additionally, during one of the largest demonstrations of the previous year in June, where an unusually high number of demonstrators participated (estimated between 120,000 and 160,000), the slogan “Home to Europe” was chanted to protest against the rejection of EU candidate status.

Last May, the daughter of Sergei Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, visited Georgia to attend a wedding of relatives. This led to protests and resulted in the cancellation of the planned celebration after the wedding, which was supposed to take place near Tbilisi. During the demonstration, the situation escalated between the police and activists, leading to the arrest of both opposition politicians and demonstrators. The visit by Lavrov’s family and the demonstration followed the resumption of commercial flights between Tbilisi and Moscow, which were approved by the Georgian side. This, in turn, 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. Furthermore, Putin also announced the lifting of visa requirements for Georgian citizens, allowing them to stay in Russia for 90 days (similar to EU countries, where they have been able to travel visa-free for 90 days since 2017). However, these decisions could once again jeopardize Georgia’s attainment of EU candidate status. 

On 29 May of this year, the EU sent a diplomatic note to the Georgian government expressing concerns regarding the resumption of flights with Russia. EU Ambassador Paweł Herczyński expressed the EU’s regret over the Georgian government’s decision to accept direct flights with Russia, emphasizing that it contradicts the position of the 27 member states. This is not the first time that EU countries have announced a demarche towards Georgia. This already occurred in February 2023 in connection with the imprisonment of Georgia’s third president, Mikheil Saakashvili.

One in twelve priorities fulfilled

For the past year, Georgia has been obligated to fulfill twelve priorities recommended by the EU Commission in June 2022. These priorities encompass various changes and reforms in different areas, including judicial reform, de-oligarchization, combating organized crime, improving the media landscape, addressing political polarization, and considering independent individuals in the appointment of a new Public Defender (Ombudsperson). 

According to a document compiled by several NGOs, Georgia has fully met only one out of these twelve priorities and has mostly fulfilled only two, while nine points remain problematic. The Georgian government has limited time left as the European Commission will release a proper enlargement report in the fall. Rikard Jozwiak, the editor from the European Bureau of Radio Liberty, states that the European Commission supports the recommendation to grant Georgia candidate status this year.

The only solution

For Georgia and its population, the candidate status and accession to the EU and NATO are not just a wish but the only solution for the security of the country and its citizens. It is well known that 20% of Georgian territory is occupied by Russia, posing a serious challenge to the nation’s security. 

Since the war in Ukraine, EU and NATO membership has gained an even greater and more significant role for the Georgian people. In addition, since declaring independence, Georgia has actively pursued integration into the EU. This European orientation is enshrined in Georgia’s constitution, highlighting the country’s pro-Western course.