Georgia in turmoil: Get on ice to the EU-what now?

Georgia in turmoil: Get on ice to the EU-what now?

In a dramatic turning point for Georgia, the government under Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze put the accession negotiations on the European Union on hold for four years! This caused outrage nationwide and driven the citizens on the streets. The protests have been raging for over two weeks, while the demonstrators with EU flags in hand fight against the authoritarian tendencies of the Georgian Dream (GD).

The situation escalates: water cannons, tear gas and brutal police force are the order of the day, but people cannot be intimidated! Supported by President Salome Zourabichvili and international voices, including Lithuania, the protesting sanctions call against Kobakhidze and the GD founder Bidzina Ivanishvili. More than 400 arrests and reports on ill -treatment show how serious the situation is.

Georgia chooses the status quo

The Georgian government has decided to preserve the status quo. Despite the privileged economic access to the EU, such as visa-free travel, she shy away from the necessary reforms that an EU membership would bring. These reforms could make manipulation of elections and the adoption of repressive laws, such as the law on foreign agents inspired by Russia.

The decision to freeze the talks with Brussels could not only endanger Georgia's participation in membership, but also to falter the entire EU expansion policy. The Georgian course could serve as a deterrent example for other candidate countries who also want to benefit from the advantages of the EU without carrying out the painful reforms.

a dangerous precedent

Serbia and northern Macedonia are just two examples of countries that act in a similar way. While Serbia drives the EU accession negotiations forward, it hesitates to meet the required conditions. Northern Macedonia also decided against a constitutional change that would be necessary to join the EU. These tactics could prove to be dangerous because they put the EU under pressure and destabilize the integration process.

The geopolitical situation also contributes to uncertainty. Russia's aggressive foreign policy and the ongoing tensions in Ukraine have pushed the discussion about EU membership into the background. While the EU tries to reform its institutions to be ready for an expansion, the internal dispute could further reduce the chances of quick integration.

But despite these challenges, there are also positive signs: in Georgia, the massive mobilization of citizens shows that the EU is still of great importance for many people. In Moldova, the pro-European president Maia Sandu was recently re-elected, which awakens hope for stronger EU integration.

Developments in Georgia are a wake -up call for the EU and show that the desire for European integration is strongly anchored among the population. The question remains how the EU will react to the challenges and whether it is able to advance its expansion policy despite all the adversities.