The emergence of the next EU report on Georgia was not accidental. After coming to power in Georgia by Mikhail Saakashvili, the country's accession to the European Union ("the return to the European nation’s family") was proclaimed one of the foreign policy priorities. Despite the fact that Brussels has reacted to this idea without much enthusiasm, the EU flags have been raised over many state agencies of Georgia. It reminds many citizens of Tbilisi the foreign occupation.
It is obvious that in the foreseeable future, Georgia's accession to the EU is impossible both by socio-political and geopolitical reasons. Now, as eight years ago, only some alternatives of "approximation" of Georgia to the European Union are being discussed. At the same time Brussels presses tough claims against Tbilisi with regard to, first of all, socio-economic sphere. The authoritarian regime in Georgia does not meet the EU standards (the present report has indicated undemocratic electoral system, problems in the judicial system, the state of prisoners and the right of ownership, etc.). At the same time, the EU is constantly expressing fidelity to the principle of "territorial integrity" of Georgia. What about South Ossetia and Abkhazia, the EU envoys tried to establish contacts with the NGOs and the leaders of these countries even before the recognition of these states by the Russian Federation. After the attempts of Tbilisi in summer of 2004 to "unfreeze" the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone, Tskhinval and Sukhum have been visited by officials of the European Union, a series of small economic projects were being realized by the EU support. After the recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, the situation has changed radically in the region. Since 2009 the EU has launched a new strategy, commonly referred to as "involvement (partnership, communication) without recognition." It involves the development of socio-economic, cultural and social (in the sphere of civil society) relations of Tskhinval and Sukhum with the states-members of the EU, without recognition of the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
"The involvement without recognition" has caused scepsis in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. It assumes that the political issues (the status of the republics, "the restoration of the Georgian territorial integrity", etc.) should not only be discussed but even raised. But in fact, the EU emissaries, explicitly or implicitly, attempt to impose on Tskhinval and Sukhum Georgia's point of view, as a precondition for the start of humanitarian programs. It is clear that the conversation does not work. The more, that the EU has recognized neither the results, nor the fact of the presidential election in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, demonstrating the real attitude towards the young states. In the coming years the policy of "engagement without recognition" is doomed to failure as in Abkhazia, which is its main "target" and (in the case of attempts to extend it over the RSO) in South Ossetia. The other strategies have not been developed yet by the EU. The new EU report shows that Georgia will continue to enjoy the support of Brussels with regard to the declared plans of "restoration" its "territorial integrity". It is interesting that the Europeans emphasize precisely those issues which are quite detailed in the draft National Strategy of Georgia's relations with the peoples of the North Caucasus (Tbilisi considers groundless the Caucasus as a single region, and South Ossetia and Abkhazia - as part of the Georgian state, so there are no contradictions from the Georgian point of view in this case). This is health and human rights, particularly freedom of movement. The young states, of course, with the help of Russia, must respond to this, increasing their own health system (and not only). The activities of Brussels and Tbilisi are not creative, but consecutive. Tskhinval and Sukhum have still to work according to the plan, knowing that the painful points have been felt right, and the situation in this area should be corrected as soon as possible.
Jana Amelina,
Chief of the Caucasus Research Sector - specifically for the IA "Res"
