On 23 June 2022, the European Council made a historic decision to recognize the European perspective for Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine. This decision is historic because of several factors – at least, because of the results it will bring in terms of cultural, political and economic development of Georgia. Furthermore, this decision is historic because its brings Georgia closer to its European future and firmly anchors the country into the European family. Moreover, this decision a step towards ensuring the civilized choice of the population of Georgia, which offers Georgia and the Georgian people a real, tangible prospect for EU integration. Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration, membership of the European Union and NATO is enshrined in the Georgian constitution, and is based on the well-thought-out choice made by the vast majority of the Georgian population a long time ago. The Georgian people have always been adhering to this choice and will continue to do so.

On 23 June 2022, the European Union, recognized at the highest political level that Georgia is a European state, it embraces European culture and civilization, is an integral part of it, and therefore, its future lies in the European Union. The clear message of this decision is that Georgia will indeed become a member of the European Union. The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, also spoke about the historical significance of the 23 June decision when she, speaking on the future of Europe from the rostrum of the European Parliament, explained in her annual report that “I want the people of the Western Balkans, of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia to know: You are part of our family, your future is in our Union, and our Union is not complete without you!”

The historical importance of the 23 June decision is highlighted by other high-ranking officials of the European Union, and is referred to as such in the reports and resolutions of the European Parliament, the European Commission, and various European institutions.

Also worth noting is the context of Georgia making an EU membership application and Europe’s positive response to this historic step. The war launched by Russia against Ukraine on 24 February 2022, the scale of which, according to military experts, has been unprecedented since the Cold War, came as a shocking surprise to most leaders of European democratic states. Leaders of the civilized world could not have envisioned, even in their most imaginative scenariosthat they would witness a military confrontation of this scale in the middle of Europe -despite the fact that Russia had made clear its militaristic aims in the immediate neighbourhood already during the final days of the Soviet Union, later in the 90s, then in August 2008 – by occupation of Georgia’s Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions and in 2014 – by annexation of the Crimea. However, the desire to develop trade relations with Russia and the illusion that Russia would some day integrate into the community of democratic states prevented the West from adopting the principled policy against Russia and to support the countries that were victims of its military aggression and to accelerate their integration into the Euro-Atlantic space.

The results of the ongoing war in Ukraine have clearly demonstrated the strategic (economic) importance of Europe’s Eastern neighborhood for Europe and its security. Today, the protection of the European future and its security, the well-being of each European, and the rules-based international order, in general, can only be ensured through the struggle for sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the European future of the countries in the Eastern neighborhood of Europe – Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia. It is this understanding, albeit a little belated, that formed the basis for the European leaders’ decision to recognize the European perspective for Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. The fact that Georgia is part of European civilization, an epitome of European values, cultural and political traditions, has always been clear to us, the people living in Georgia, and it has long been a well-thought-out choice of our population. Our European identity has never been questioned by the population, the political elite. It is precisely the will of Europe in the new geopolitical reality, as well as the progress in terms of Georgia’s integration with the European Union that led the country, already in 2022, to make an application for EU membership (it is to be recalled that Georgia was planning to formally apply for EU membership in 2024 and preparations were already underway). The European Council responded positively to the application, recognizing Georgia’s European perspective on June 23. Georgia’s application to join the European Union was not only an expression of political will. In the given context, it was also a manifestation of Georgia’s solidarity, fight for freedom, democratic development of the country, commitment to European values and standing on the right side of history. What does the European perspective of Georgia mean? As I’ve mentioned above, it is a political decision made by the political leadership of all EU member states that Georgia will definitely become a member of the European Union and that Georgia is a European country. This means that the future of Georgia is in the European Union and there is no alternative to its European choice.

Decisions made by the European Union’s highest political authority (European Council) have specific legal and political implications, which bring about tangible results. The same is true in the case of Georgia. Once the applicant country is granted a European perspective, in accordance with applicable procedures and practices, the EU opens accession negotiations with the applicant country (with candidate status). Like for other applicant countries, the European Union defined 12 priorities (12 recommendations) for Georgia, the implementation of which is a prerequisite for the start of accession negotiations.

Once the EU governments agree, the EU will gradually open the accession negotiations based on the chapters of the Copenhagen criteria (35 chapters in total). After the negotiations are closed, the European Commission will present another opinion on the fulfillment of the conditions under the chapters by the country wishing to join, and will submit a recommendation to the Council on the readiness of the country to join the European Union. The Council of the European Union takes a unanimous decision (consent procedure) on the negotiations to be concluded, which, at the final stage, requires the approval of the European Parliament. At the next stage, the preparation of the country’s accession treaty begins, which is to be ratified by the candidate country and every individual EU country. In parallel, the candidate country will hold a referendum to confirm the population’s support for EU membership. Once the ratification procedure of the accession treaty is completed and the results of the referendum are announced, a specific date when the country officially becomes a member of the European Union will be determined.

Georgia, together with Ukraine, Moldova and the candidate countries of the Western Balkans have already been included into the so-called Enlargement Package. The name itself indicates the framework of relations with the European Union and the processes it has sparked. Of course, joining the European Union is a complex and long-term process (It takes different countries different periods of time to complete the accession negotiations and sign an agreement on the final date of accession), which, along with the fulfillment of a number of obligations (Copenhagen criteria) requires harmonization with the EU legislation (acquis). Both parties are equally involved in this process, and it is the responsibility, and first of all, the political will of both parties, to make the accession process as smooth as possible and lead it to its successful outcome – membership of the European Union. From the next year, Georgia’s progress on the path to accession will be assessed based on the enlargement package, by employing a unified approach to the countries of the Western Balkans, Ukraine and Moldova,.

Georgia has many friends and allies in Europe. All member states of the European Union support Georgia’s accession to the European Union and are ready to walk this path together. On the path of European integration, the country gradually becomes the beneficiary of all assets that are called European values, and the European standard of well-being and development. The motto of the European Union is “Strength is in diversity!” As a member of the EU, Georgia – with its centuries-old culture and history, with its rich past and present, as well as with its strategic location will further strengthen the European Union in the future and, to borrow the words of the President of the European Commission, will make it even more complete.

Blog by: Zurab Khamasuridze