Euractiv: “Georgia’s European way: What next?”

Georgia’s frontrunning role among the European Union’s neighbouring countries for eventual accession in the union is recognised in a new opinion piece for Euractiv news network.

Steven Blockmans, Head of EU Foreign Policy at the Centre for European Policy Studies, penned an article for the pan-European network’s website, outlining Georgia’s place in the process of the state’s deepening ties with the EU.

A recent offer by the College of European Commissioners, a body of the European Commission’s leaders, to meet with their counterparts on an annual basis is shown as a major sign of the progress in the process.

[The offer] is unique when comparing it to relations between the EU and other third countries.

Not even the countries of the European Economic Area (Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) and Switzerland [...] can pride themselves with such an advanced format for dialogue,” the article points out.

Georgia’s signing of the Association Agreement with the EU, with the included Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) and visa-free travel to Schengen states for Georgian citizens, is viewed through their comparison with commitments between the union and other aspiring countries.

[I]n terms of scope, speed of legal approximation and level of enforcement, key parts of the DCFTAs actually surpass [...] commitments entered into by the Western Balkan countries,” Blockmans notes.

The opinion piece also touches on the subject of prospects of expecting “a further symbolic milestone” between Georgia and the EU following the College of European Commissioners offer.

Read the full story here.