International Crisis Group: EU should recognise that the fear of war in Georgia is genuine, not feigned or oversold

A shift in the European Union’s rhetoric - moving away from public criticism of the ruling Georgian Dream party toward incentivising specific reforms - would create a significantly better environment for dialogue, according to a newly published report by the independent international organisation, the International Crisis Group.

The article noted that Brussels should make this shift as a reciprocal gesture for a similar reduction in hostile rhetoric from Tbilisi.

“As crises in EU-Georgia relations have often been sparked by the pointed remarks of MEPs, EU bodies should make clear that, while often highly visible, European Parliament resolutions and public statements by MEPs are largely declaratory and do not reflect official EU policy toward Georgia. More broadly, the EU should recognise that the fear of war in Georgia is genuine, not feigned or oversold, and a fundamental element of Tbilisi’s strategic calculations. It can coexist with overwhelming support for EU membership among the population”, the article said.

The organisation also added that EU member states should separate EU enlargement from cooperation on regional priorities.

“Though Georgia’s current foreign policy understandably disappoints EU officials and diplomats, the country’s status as an EU candidate should not block all other areas of cooperation. While remaining firm on compliance with its accession rules and obligations, EU officials could draw a distinction between issues that are related to that process, such as pre-accession funds, which the EU has already partially suspended in response to democratic backsliding, and those that are not connected, like cooperating on transit routes. Likewise, cooperation on the EUMM should continue, as it has done so far despite diplomatic tensions”, the article noted.

The International Crisis Group further noted that the EU could also re-engage Georgia on issues of transit through the Caucasus.

“Excluding Georgia from these discussions is not just counter to the EU’s own interests in fostering connectivity, including through its new Black Sea Strategy. It also risks squandering a chance to boost greater cooperation inside the Caucasus”, the article concluded.