Georgia–European Union relations
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 European Union |
 Georgia |
Georgia and the European Union have maintained relations for several years. With Georgia having recently undergone substantial reforms, President Mikhail Saakashvili has expressed his desire to see membership in the European Union as a long term priority. Links to the EU, USA and NATO have been strengthened, with attempts being made to move away from the Russian sphere of influence while attempting to advance co-operation with Russia.[1]
History
In Adjara, a significant hurdle in protecting the territorial integrity of Georgia was overcome when the authoritarian leader Aslan Abashidze was forced to resign in May 2004. EU CFSP Chief Javier Solana indicated in February 2007 that the EU could send troops to Georgia alongside Russian forces.[2]
In July 2006 the European Union referred to then recent developments in South Ossetia zone of and to the Resolution of the Georgian Parliament on Peacekeeping Forces Stationed in the Conflict Zones, which was adopted on July 18, 2006 as follows:
| “ | The European Union is deeply concerned about continuing tension between Georgia and Russia and recent incidents in South Ossetia, which do not contribute to stability and freedom of movement. The European Union is particularly worried by the recent closure of the only recognized border crossing between Georgia and the Russian Federation. The European Union emphasises the importance of ensuring freedom of movement of goods and people, in particular by keeping the border crossing at Zemo Larsi open. —[3] | ” |
On 2 October 2006, a joint statement on the agreed text of the Georgia-European Union Action Plan within the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) was issued. The Action Plan was formally approved at the EU-Georgia Cooperation Council session on 14 November 2006 in Brussels.[4]
After the 2008 South Ossetia war a EU cease-fire monitoring mission in Georgia (EUMM) was sent to monitor the Russian troop withdrawal from "security zones" established by Russia around South Ossetia and Abkhazia.[5] The mission started on October 1, 2008[6] and was prolonged by the EU in July 2009 for one year while the EU expressed concern that Russia was blocking other observers from working there[7] (a United Nations Security Council resolution aimed at extending its UN Observer Mission in Georgia was vetoed by Russia on June 15, 2009[8]).
Georgia's current President Mikheil Saakashvili has expressed a desire for Georgia to join the EU. This view has been explicitly expressed on several occasions as links to the United States, EU and NATO have been strengthened in an attempt to move away from the Russian sphere of influence. Territorial integrity issues in Ajaria were dealt with after the Rose Revolution, when leader Aslan Abashidze was forced to resign in May 2004. However, unresolved territorial integrity issues have again risen to the forefront in South Ossetia and Abkhazia as a result of the 2008 South Ossetia War.
On 11 November 2010, Georgian Deputy Prime Minister Giorgi Baramidze announced that Georgia wants to cooperate with Ukraine in their attempt to join the European Union.[9]
Association Agreement
The EU and Georgia are negotiating an Association Agreement and a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement, with the goal of completing negotiations in 2013.[10] In November 2012, EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Fule stated that the AA negotiations could be finalized by November 2013.[11] In February 2013, Tamar Beruchachvili, the Deputy State Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Georgia, stated that Georgia had no plans to join the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia,[12] which Fule has warned Ukraine would be incompatible with the agreements with the EU.[13]
In June 2012, the EU and Georgia began a visa liberalisation dialogue to allow for visa free travel of Georgian citizens to the EU. The talks aimed to have a Visa Liberalisation Action Plan in place by the end of the year.[10] The action plan was delivered to Georgia on 25 February 2013.[14]
Further reading
- Fischer, Sabine: "European Policy towards the South Caucasus after the Georgia Crisis" in the Caucasus Analytical Digest No. 1
References
- ^ redirect
- ^ Solana raises prospect of EU soldiers in Georgia EU Observer
- ^ Ministry Of Foreign Affairs Of Georgia - OSCE
- ^ EU, Georgia Sign ENP Action Plan, Civil Georgia, 2 October 2006.
- ^ Q&A: Conflict in Georgia, BBC News (November 11, 2008)
- ^ Tbilisi Must Build Closer Relationship With EU, Former Georgian Envoy Says, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (October 05, 2008)
- ^ EU extends Georgia cease-fire monitor mission, Hürriyet Daily News and Economic Review (July 27, 2009)
- ^ Georgia Slams Russia For Shutting Down UN Mission, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (June 16, 2009 )
- ^ Georgia proposes Ukraine cooperate in bidding to join EU, Interfax
- ^ a b "EU, Georgia Making 'Good Progress' in Association Agreement, Visa Liberalization Talks". Civil Georgia. 2012-09-03. Retrieved 2012-09-03.
- ^ "EU Commissioner: EU, Ukraine May Sign Association Agreement Next Year". PR Newswire. 2012-11-30. Retrieved 2013-01-31.
- ^ "Georgian minister: EU remains priority despite ‘Russian rapprochement’". EurActiv. 2013-02-14. Retrieved 2013-02-18.
- ^ Auyezov, Olzhas (2013-02-08). "Reform quickly or lose deals, EU tells Ukraine". The Star. Retrieved 2013-02-09.
- ^ "Commissioner Malmström presents Action Plan on Visa Liberalisation with Georgia". Europa.eu. 25 February 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
External links
- The European Commission's Delegation to Georgia
- The EU and Georgia: time perspectives in conflict resolution, by Bruno Coppieters, Occasional Paper No. 70, December 2007, European Union Institute for Security Studies
- Fischer, Sabine: "European Policy towards the South Caucasus after the Georgia Crisis" in the Caucasus Analytical Digest No. 1
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