Archil Gegeshidze

2005-06 International Policy Fellow
The Challenge of Wider Europe working group

Abstract:
One of the major implications of the Rose Revolution in Georgia has been its inclusion, together with Armenia and Azerbaijan, into the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP). Raised expectations about the success of democracy in Georgia and its possible spillover effect on the neighborhood in the wider region have largely determined this decision on the part of the European policy community. This, in turn, has galvanized Georgian policy community and public opinion with hopes about the increased prospects for Georgia's integration in the EU. In addition, it is expected that in the shorter run the ENP will provide a basis for the EU's active involvement in the process of conflict resolution in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. On the other hand, Brussels views the ENP as a powerful resource for Georgia to modernize through genuine democratization and effective market-based reforms. This paper attempts to provide an analysis of Georgia's Europeanization prospects within the context of the ENP.

The purpose of this analysis is to help formulate a coherent vision of Georgia's future role and place in enlarging Europe.

Download