Georgia ’ s European Union Integration Roadmap
Georgia’s aspiration to become a member of the European Union is based on the European choice of the majority of Georgian citizens affirmed by conducted polls and studies. The European choice has been highlighted both in the Constitution of Georgia and in the text of the Resolution of the Parliament of Georgia of 29 December 2016.
The EU-Georgia Association Agreement acknowledges European aspirations and European choice of Georgia as an Eastern European country. The Agreement recognizes the commonality of values between the EU and Georgia and “leaves open the way for future progressive developments in EU-Georgia relations”. The purpose of the Roadmap is to set up an overall framework for Georgia’s ongoing reforms to establish stable democratic institutions, functioning market economy and to ensure its capacity for continuous implementation of the EU acquis. The final goal of Georgia’s European Integration is EU membership, based on the article 49 of the TEU.
The prospect of joining the European Union was an important motivator of democratic transformation and development for Central and Eastern European countries, which became members of the single European family in 2004 and 2007. Enlargement is still one of the powerful tools of EU foreign policy that promotes positive changes in the countries that are on the path to European integration. A good example of this is the Balkan countries. Pursuant to the European Union Global Strategy on Foreign and Security Policy, “a credible enlargement policy is a strategic investment in Europe’s security and prosperity”.
At the same time, the European Union, as well as the entire world, faces serious challenges that directly affect Georgia and its European integration. Migration and economic crisis, the threat of terrorism and radicalisation, the decision of the United Kingdom to leave the European Union (so-called ‘Brexit’) and the rise of Eurosceptic forces, have created a negative background in the European Union, which has necessitated putting the functional strengthening of the Community on the agenda of EU leaders. Against this background, a cautious attitude prevails in Member States about further enlargement. The resumption of enlargement by the European Commission, despite these challenges, with respect to the Western Balkans after 5 years of cessation, is a positive signal for Georgia and other European countries willing to join the European Union. The Rome Declaration of 25 March 2017, signed by the Leaders of EU institutions and of Member States, specifies that the European Union is open to those European countries that respect European values. Georgia should therefore take every opportunity at this stage to successfully implement the required reforms and to appropriately demonstrate progress.
In recent years, relations between the EU and Georgia have been characterised by particular dynamism. This is a result of the key achievements, including the effective implementation of the Association Agreement, the functioning of a visa-free regime, the joining of the Energy Community, the new formats of cooperation, such as a high-level dialogue between the Government of Georgia and the European Commission on sectoral cooperation issues and a high-level strategic dialogue on security issues. These achievements have demonstrated that Georgia is one of the leading reformer countries, which has been highlighted in many reports and statements of the European Union.
Despite this progress, Georgia's closer integration with the European Union than envisaged by the Association Agreement, as well as other agreements of a sectoral nature is of particular importance.
Effective implementation of the reforms envisaged by the Roadmap should ensure the readiness of Georgia for EU membership and respective political steps of European Integration.
This document incorporates the reforms planned by the Government of Georgia in the field of European integration, which, in addition to measures determined by the Association Agreement, will significantly contribute to the better political association and economic integration of Georgia with the European Union.
The document includes the main benchmarks of the Association Agreement and activities beyond the Agreement, as well as mechanism for further identification and implementation of these activities. In addition to the above, the Roadmap identifies opportunities for further enhancing cooperation with the European Union in the field of defence and security, involvement in EU programmes and expansion of cooperation with the priority EU agencies as well as the prospects of physical integration with the European Union and the areas of current and future cooperation within the framework of the Eastern Partnership.
Implementation of the reforms determined by the Georgia’s European Integration Roadmap will bring new dynamism to EU-Georgia relations and will ensure the maximum approximation of the national legislation to the EU acquis, and the achievement of better institutional and sectoral integration than envisaged by the Association Agreement.
The Roadmap will contribute to increasing the consistency, predictability and transparency of the country’s European integration process.
The preparation of this document is important both for donor organisations and business representatives and investors, in terms of planning long-term activities.
Georgia’s European Union Integration Roadmap was prepared in close cooperation with state agencies, with the active involvement of civil society, and was based on EU expertise.
This is a living document, which will be a subject of amendment on a systematic basis.
