Georgia Accepts the EU with Its Mistakes
- By Andrej Matisak
Despite the difficulties, there are countries that see EU accession as the goal of their efforts. Georgia is one of these countries.
Who can better communicate the importance of the European Union at a time of growing populism and extremism? Maybe, we need to look beyond the borders. Britain is going to leave the EU after the referendum.Yet despite the difficulties, there are countries that see EU accession as the goal of their efforts. Georgia is one of these countries, a shadow of the unresolved conflict with Russia is hovering over its aspirations.
Route to the EU
“We accept as fact all discussions, every problem associated with Brexit, all questions relating to the procedures of the EU functioning. But we see them as part of the Union, which we want to join,” said President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili at the Georgia’s European Way conference. “Thus, we see what we can get from the EU. But we recognise that there are also some complications with which the Union is struggling. We are not happy that Brexit is somehow diverting attention from other things. We do not like the fact that we still do not have visa-free travel to the EU, even though we know that this will happen. But this is the Union. As I say, we accept what we can get out of it and we are prepared for the challenges,” said the head of state.
The conference in the seaside city of Batumi was organised in cooperation with the Slovak GLOBSEC. The event was also attended by Rastislav Káčer, Ambassador of Slovakia to Hungary. In the discussion with President Margvelashvili, he pointed out that we in Europe are currently only complaining. “It is as if we want only to have the advantages of the EU. It is a very bad attitude,” said Ambassador Káčer, who is also GLOBSEC’s honorary president.
Georgia, the former Soviet Republic in the Caucasus, has about 4.4 million inhabitants and an area of almost 70 thousand square kilometres. However, the government in Tbilisi does not control the entire territory. In 2008, after the Russian-Georgian war, Abkhazia and South Ossetia declared independence. Officially, Tbilisi considers them territories occupied by Russia. Independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia is recognised only by a few countries. Conflicts during the 1990s and the war with Russia caused a problem that Georgia still has to solve: what to do with some 300 thousand people who had to leave their homes.
Despite these problems, Georgia signed an Association Agreement with the EU back in 2014. In October, it should get a visa-free regime with the EU. This was confirmed during the conference in Batumi by EU Commissioner for Enlargement Johannes Hahn. “Georgia has fulfilled all the conditions,” he said. “I believe that it is possible to obtain visa liberalisation since the beginning of October. It is up to the EU to deliver on its promise,” said Hahn.
Yet, the visa liberalisation still encounters some resistance. In June, Germany, with the support of France and Italy, opposed its introduction. Berlin complained about Georgian criminal gangs. Nevertheless, the government in Tbilisi hopes for the visas to be lifted before the parliamentary elections that should be held on October 8.
“We want to show Europe that we are not a problem country. On the contrary, we will contribute to the strengthening of the European Union,” said Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili. “Georgians do not try to become someone they are not. Georgians are really Europeans. This is evident in our culture and history. Europe is our past and our future is also in Europe. We fulfil the reform requirements in the areas of transport, economy and industry. We have fundamentally changed our legislation. We have fulfilled the requirements for the abolition of visas,” said Kvirikashvili.
Many experts believe that Georgia has really moved forward. “The country is the most successful example of the Eastern Partnership,” said François Lafond, who teaches at the prestigious Science Po University in Paris, at the conference.
How does Georgian student Diana Khomeriki see it? “I hope that Georgia will become a country that people do not want to leave. That will attract back all its talented citizens who left it,” says Khomeriki, referring to the great brain drain problem encountered not only by Georgia.
The Caucasus country is still struggling with unemployment, which is over 12 percent. In terms of perceptions of corruption, Georgia was in 48th place in 2015 by the ranking of Transparency International. (Worth noting that it is only two places above Slovakia.)
However, it seems that Georgians are not very satisfied with the state of public affairs. According to the survey conducted in April by the National Democratic Institute, 36 percent of the population says that the country goes in the wrong direction, and 39 percent feels that the country is stagnating. In economic terms, only 10 percent of Georgians say they are better off than in 2012.
“Of course, it takes time to overcome all obstacles and challenges we face, but I believe the Georgians can do it,” says optimistically Khomeriki who wants to see her country as part of the Euro-Atlantic structures. "And I see the future of Georgia as a country linking Europe and Asia,” said the student.
According to the survey, 77 percent of the population wishes to join the EU and 68 percent NATO.
NATO and Russia
However, a shadow of the unresolved conflict with Russia is hovering over the country. It also includes Georgia’s ambitions to join NATO.
“Tbilisi has been waiting for a Membership Action Plan for eight years. It is a disappointment for the political and social elite,” noted Konrad Zasztowt, an analyst at the Polish Institute of International Affairs. “On the other hand, NATO helps Georgia to modernise its army and reform its security sector. NATO has also positively influenced changes in state institutions that are now more democratic and more transparent,” said the expert.
According to Laura Linderman of the Atlantic Council, it is obvious that despite some frustration from NATO, Georgians are still seeking a security partnership. “The situation is complicated. Georgia fears that it will get into a kind of grey zone between Russia and Europe, where Moscow will be able to exercise their influence regardless of Tbilisi,” says the expert.
Florent Parmentier of Science Po notes that the current government that came into office in 2012 changed the foreign policy compared with the era of President Mikheil Saakashvili. “Tbilisi believed that relations between Russia and the West will improve. But the war in Ukraine changed everything,” said Parmentier. “On the other hand, despite strong statements towards Georgia this country is not currently a priority for Russia. Moscow focuses on Syria and Ukraine,” said Parmentier.
“But frustration with the slow political and economic progress helps pro-Russian forces and propaganda,” says political analyst Kornely Kakachia of Tbilisi State University. According to the expert, the Georgian government seeks a pragmatic approach. “It has softened its rhetoric toward Russia. Economically, it also acts pragmatically. The current political and economic openings towards China are also part of this trend. Tbilisi and Moscow, however, have their red lines that cannot be crossed, especially because Russia continues to occupy part of Georgian territory,” said Kakachia.
Expert from Tbilisi: Moscow wants to have an exclusive influence on us
“For Russia, the problem is that Georgia is democratic. We do not have to be a member of NATO and the EU,” said Gogita Gvedashvili of the European Initiative – Liberal Academy Tbilisi during a short interview at the Georgia’s European Way conference, organised in cooperation with the Slovak GLOBSEC.
Gvedashvili stated that “Russia has used all the tools at its disposal against Georgia. Economic sanctions, deportations of Georgian citizens and military power. In our society still mainly older people look back to the Soviet Union. The young ones are clearly looking to the West. This is where they see their future”, he added. He explained that “according to recent surveys, 25 percent of Georgians would prefer a Eurasian Union, but more than 70 percent speaks about the need for Euro-Atlantic integration. After the war in 2008, we refer to Russia in strategic documents as an occupier because it controls part of our territory. From time to time, it pushes the borders in order to put pressure on Georgia. At this point, however, it would not be in Russia’s interest to enter into an open conflict”.
The question is how is the influence of Moscow manifested? Gvedashvili told us that “after the new government took power in 2012 in Georgia, Russia focuses on the use of soft power. It influences political parties, NGOs, the media and the church. Some politicians say that Russia is indeed an occupier, but is vital for the economic development of the country. So they are saying that if they get to power, they will again unite the state, for they claim they have contacts to make it happen. We will see if they get into parliament in October. But even these pro-Moscow parties do not claim they would like to be part of Russia or the Eurasian Union. Because it is really not a popular idea. They talk about neutrality”.
It does seem though that the argument about economic relations makes sense, although according to Gvedashvili “even the government speaks of a pragmatic policy towards Moscow, so that we can sell agricultural products, wine, mineral water. But exports to Russia represent only seven percent. In 2006 it was 60 percent. Russia denied us access to their market, so we started selling in China, in Europe. It even helped us to improve the quality of our products” adding that the real “challenge is still wine exports since 60 percent goes to the Russian market”.
So, what would Russia like to achieve in Georgia in the end? Gogita Gvedashvili was quite clear in his answer, “Moscow does not view us as equal partners. It wants to have exclusive influence in Georgia and the Caucasus. For Russia, the problem is even that Georgia is democratic. It does not have to be a member of NATO and the EU.”
