Nikoloz Khatiashvili, a research fellow from GEOCASE
Recently, a number of Eastern Partnership countries have applied for membership in the European Union. Ukraine submitted a bid to join the EU in early March, shortly after the full-scale Russian invasion to Ukraine invasion began, and was followed within days by Georgia and Moldova, which were handed their respective questionnaires on April 11, on the sidelines of the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg. StrategEast has interviewed leading experts from EaP countries. Here are the answers from Georgia.
Is the task of joining the EU affordable for your country? What key aspects (economic, political, social) are close to European in your country? What needs to be improved?
Historically, Georgia has always been an integral part of Europe. Georgia’s aspiration for the EU is Georgia’s main internal and foreign policy goal, backed by the will of the majority of Georgian people and Georgia’s main document – the Constitution of Georgia.
Under the Association Agreement, Georgia is actively working towards sectoral integration with the European Union, and important progress has been achieved in the areas such as trade, science, education, technology, agriculture, energy and infrastructure. Georgia is also having strong cooperation with law enforcement agencies of EU member states in the field of organized crime, illegal migration and terrorism.
Georgia has repeatedly been recognized as a frontrunner country within the Eastern Partnership in terms of reforms. Georgia is actively pursuing legal harmonization with European legislation. At this stage, it is necessary to maintain the dynamics of reforms and reach consensus with the EU on a number of political issues. Also, the legal harmonization process with the European legislation should be accelerated.
