The Failure of Georgia’s Pro-European Foreign Policy the Main Obstacle to Obtaining Candidate Status
The Failure of Georgia’s Pro-European Foreign Policy the Main Obstacle to Obtaining Candidate Status

Summary/Abstract: In June 2022, the EU granted candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova, while Georgia’s application was rejected. The European Commission presented 12 conditions, in the case of fulfilment of which Georgia will receive candidate status in December 2023. Particularly important points refer to issues such as overcoming political polarisation, the effective functioning and independence of institutions, the independence and impartiality of the judiciary, deoligarchisation and media freedom. In the light of the ongoing war in Ukraine, the “failures” in Georgia’s pro-European foreign policy became especially clear. The official positions of Tbilisi often contradict the policies of the United States and the European Union towards Russia. Moreover, at the level of political narrative, they often coincide with the positions of the Kremlin. Hence, our main research questions will be as follows: What factors caused Georgia to fail to receive candidate status in June 2022? What factors and reasons cause “failures” in the pro-European course of Georgia’s foreign policy and, possibly, its deviation towards Russian positions?

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