Nika
Chitadze (Ph.D.)
Director of the Center
for International Studies
Professor of the
International Black Sea University
President of the George
C. Marshall Alumni Union, Georgia – International and Security Research Center
Materials of the Workshop “Place of the New Ukraine in the Architecture
of the European Institutions”. Organized by European Expert Association. February 21-22, 2019. Kharkiv, Ukraine.
Abstract
Main goal of the paper is to research and analyze the perspectives of the integration of Ukraine and
Georgia to the European Structures in the framework of the EU Eastern
Partnership Program and Ukraine-EU, Georgia – EU Associate Agreements.
In this regard, main attention is paid on the
review of the legal, economic, political, security and other factors related to
the relations of Ukraine and Georgia with the European Union. Particularly role of the judiciary system in
the political life of both countries, importance of the geopolitical location
of Ukraine and Georgia, level of democracy, socio-economic and human
development according to the Human Development Index and Freedom House reports,
volume of the foreign trade of both countries with the European Union etc.
Keywords
Ukraine, Georgia, Democracy, Judiciary System,
European Union, Foreign Trade
Introduction
Since the first
years of the restoration of Independence, Georgia and Ukraine tried to
establish close relations with European Union. But, in the beginning of 90-th,
European Union had its own concrete position toward the both states and considered the development of the
regional partnership with the post-soviet republics, main purpose of which
represented the promoting democracy and market economy. EU was promoting
the integration of the new independent states to the international community
and providing the internal stability. EU Foreign Policy strategy was taking
into consideration the same strategy toward the all post-soviet republics –
Russia, Ukraine, South Caucasus or Central Asian states. The purposes of EU on
the way of transformation of those republics were practically similar. Those
same approaches by EU become clear during the signing the partnership and
cooperation agreements, which reflected the common regional approach and there
were no differences among the concrete countries, which signed the bilateral
treaties with EU. (Gogolashvili, 2017) .
But, at the end of the 90-th, European Union determined new regional context,
particularly among the post-soviet republics EU was more focused on Georgia,
Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, Moldova, Azerbaijan and Armenia and welcomed their
involvement in the European Neighbourhood Policy initiative. It was the first
sign, that those post-soviet countries had the European perspectives, which
become more clear, when in 2003-2004 EU started the implementation of
Neighborhood policy with those republics and in 2009 adopted the Eastern Partnership Format.
Eastern Partnership opened for the participating states
the wide spectrum of possibilities for the establishment new regional and
multilateral relations, and promoting the bilateral relations between EU and
concrete state within the EU Eastern Partnership (EP) Program. Despite of the fact, that no one agreement
within the Eastern Partnership is considered as a direct instrument for the fully integration to the European Union, in reality the strengthening of the bilateral
relations has shown the possibility, according to which in longterm perspective
the logic result of the success of the EP format can be the EU membership. At the
same time, the only desire of the state to join EU is not enough for the
getting the invitation for the membership from the European Community side.
In the
contemporary period, the obtaining the promise about European perspective
represents the main purpose for Georgia and Ukraine in short term and long term
perspectives (Gogolashvili, 2017) .
Furthermore,
it is necessary to
point out, that the perspectives of the EU membership for both countries
differs from
each other and each country
has its own strengths and weaknesses on the way of European
integration.
Different
indexes of success in the Eastern European States and Post-soviet Republics
At the end of the last century, Central and
Eastern European states had significant political and economic transformation –
centrally planned economy has been transferred to the free market economy and totalitarian communist regimes
have
been replaced by
democratic ones and pluralist
societies. In comparison of those states, post-soviet republics within the
reforms, related to transformation, gained the less success. Some of them, such
as Georgia and Ukraine are still before the important political and economic
challenges despite the fact, that they actively continue their way toward the
European integration.
Discussing about Georgia and Ukraine, the following question
should be existed: Is it possible or not, that both countries will manage to
overcome the problems, related to the fighting against corruption, limitation the
power of oligarchs, establishment free and fair market economy and
strengthening the superiority of law? In spite of the fact, that by the active
cooperation with the civil society, European Union and other western
institutions are trying the promoting of the democratic structures, obtaining
positive results in such fields as transparency of political institutions, effective
judiciary system etc. it represents the difficult process. Even more, the
situation become more complicated as a result of the returning the Russia as
Regional power and increasing of the Kremlin involvement in the geopolitical
“games” on the post-soviet space.
The
transformation processes has brought the various political and economic results
in the post-communist countries. If the Baltic Republics have managed
successfully transferring within the democratization way, Ukraine and Georgia
had many difficulties within the democratization because of several reasons. After
the gaining of independence, former communist elites in Ukraine again came to the power under the new names of the
political parties, which hampered the democratization process. Georgia itself
was involved in civil wars, ethnical confrontations and authorities (Headed by
former communist leader E. Shevadnadze) had no view, how to implement the
transformation of the economy and political system of the state. As a result, the implementation of the
economic and institutional reforms in both countries have seriously damaged (Havlik & Adarov,
2017) .
Chapter 1. Ukraine-EU Relations
Challenges of Ukraine on the way of European
integration:
Ukraine stands before the many main challenges,
which seriously prevents its progress on the way of European integration. Those
challenges are the following (Šukytė, 2015) :
1.
Russian
aggression, as a result of which the entrance into force DCFTA (Free
Trade) agreement was
postponed. Furthermore, it caused the outflow of foreign investments and
capital from Ukraine and closing the Russian market for the Ukrainian
production;
2.
Dependence
on the international financial aid and lack of the political will for the
promoting the anticorruption measures, de-monopolization and carrying out the
reforms in the taxation system;
3.
Lack
of the appropriate knowledge related to the field of business and export
opportunities in the framework of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade
Agreement, realization of which can bring the positive results for
the Ukrainian economy;
4.
Strengthening
reforms by the final implementation the laws on Public service and promoting
the close cooperation between civil society and public institutions.
Level of
Democracy in Ukraine
For
the determination the level of democracy in the concrete country, it is
reliable to pay attention on the reports of the Freedom House. Freedom House is
a U.S.-based U.S. government-funded non-governmental organization that conducts
research and advocacy on democracy, political freedom, and human rights.
Level
of Democracy is measured by 7-scale system.
Furthermore,
Freedom House determine the level of democracy and freedom in the countries by
the dividing them to the three main groups: Free, partly Free and Non-Free
states (Freedom House, 2018).
According
to the Freedom House report for 2018, the score of Ukraine was 4,64. So,
country is included to the list of the partly free states.
According to the different parameters, which determines the
level of democracy in the country, within the period 2009-2018, it can be
received the following table (Freedom House, 2018):
|
|
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
2013
|
2014
|
2015
|
2016
|
2017
|
2018
|
|
National Democratic Governance
|
5.00
|
5.00
|
5.50
|
5.75
|
5.75
|
6.00
|
6.00
|
5.75
|
5.75
|
5.75
|
|
Electoral Process
|
3.50
|
3.50
|
3.50
|
3.75
|
4.00
|
4.00
|
3.50
|
3.50
|
3.50
|
3.50
|
|
Civil Society
|
2.75
|
2.75
|
2.75
|
2.75
|
2.75
|
2.50
|
2.25
|
2.25
|
2.50
|
2.75
|
|
Independent Media
|
3.50
|
3.50
|
3.75
|
4.00
|
4.00
|
4.25
|
4.00
|
4.00
|
4.00
|
4.25
|
|
Local Democratic Governance
|
5.25
|
5.25
|
5.50
|
5.50
|
5.50
|
5.50
|
5.50
|
5.25
|
5.00
|
4.75
|
|
Judicial Framework and Independence
|
5.00
|
5.00
|
5.50
|
6.00
|
6.00
|
6.00
|
6.00
|
6.00
|
5.75
|
5.75
|
|
Corruption
|
5.75
|
5.75
|
5.75
|
6.00
|
6.00
|
6.25
|
6.00
|
6.00
|
5.75
|
5.75
|
|
Democracy Score
|
4.39
|
4.39
|
4.61
|
4.82
|
4.86
|
4.93
|
4.75
|
4.68
|
4.61
|
4.64
|
Place
of Ukraine in the World according to the Human Development Index (HDI)
The
HDI was created to emphasize that people and their capabilities should be the
ultimate criteria for assessing the development of a country, not economic
growth alone. The HDI can also be used to question national policy choices,
asking how two countries with the same level of GNI (Gross National Income) per
capita can end up with different human development outcomes. These contrasts
can stimulate debate about government policy priorities.
The
Human Development Index (HDI) is a summary measure of average achievement in
key dimensions of human development: a long and healthy life, being
knowledgeable and have a decent standard of living. The HDI is the geometric
mean of normalized indices for each of the three dimensions. The maximal score
is 1, the minimal 0 (HDI, 2018).
According
to Human Development Index, Ukraine is at the 88-th place by 0, 728 scores in
the World (HDI, 2018).
Place
of Ukraine in Globalization Index
The KOF Index of Globalization is
an index of the degree
of globalization of 122 countries. It was
conceived by Axel Dreher at the Konjunkturforschungsstelle
of ETH
Zurich, in Switzerland. It was first published in 2002, and covered the
period from 1970 until contemporary period. A last version of KOF was
published in 2017 (KOF, 2017).
The index is based on
three principal criteria: economic, political and social. Unlike the Maastricht Globalization
Index, it does not take into account environmental factors. Maximal index is
100.
According
to those criteria, the level Ukraine`s involvement in the globalization process
is the following:
General
Globalization index of Ukraine – 45-th place with 70,24 scores
Economic
globalization – 63-th place with 68,42 scores
Social
– 63-th place with 61,05 scores
Political
– 43-th with 84,90 (KOF, 2017).
Economic Freedom
Taking
into account the socio-economic problems in the country, according to the
research, implemented by Heritage Foundation, Ukraine by 52, 3 scores is at the
147 -th place in the World (Heritage Foundation, 2018).
GDP per capita in Ukraine
The Gross Domestic Product per capita in
Ukraine was last recorded at 2 991.63 US dollars in 2017. The GDP per Capita in
Ukraine is equivalent to 24 percent of the world's average (Trading Economics,
2017).
The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI)
This is an index
published annually by Transparency International since
1995 which ranks countries "by their perceived levels of corruption, as
determined by expert assessments and opinion surveys." The CPI
generally defines corruption as "the misuse of public power for
private benefit".
The CPI currently
ranks 176 countries "on a scale from 100 (very clean) to 0 (highly corrupt)".
According to this
index, Ukraine by 28 scores is at the 131-th place in the world (Transparency
International, 2018).
Perspectives
for Ukraine on the way of European Integration
Geopolitical Location of
Ukraine
After the ending of the “Cold
War”, one of the first, who mentioned about importance of Ukraine was famous
American geopolitician Zbigniew
Brzezinski. In his book, The Grand Chessboard, which was
published in 1997, he wrote, “Ukraine, a new and important space on the
Eurasian chessboard, is a geopolitical pivot because its very existence as an
independent country helps to transform Russia. Without Ukraine, Russia ceases
to be a Eurasian empire. However, if Moscow regains control over Ukraine, with
its 52 million people and major resources as well as access to the Black Sea,
Russia automatically again regains the wherewithal to become a powerful
imperial state, spanning Europe and Asia.” (Brzezinski, 1997).
Foreign
Trade of Ukraine and place of EU in this process
Ukraine's
foreign trade in goods rose 12 percent in 2018 to 104.2 billion U.S. dollars.
Ukraine's
exports increased 9 percent to 47.3 billion dollars last year, while imports
surged 15 percent to 56.9 billion dollars.
The
European Union was Ukraine's largest trading partner last year, accounting for
42 percent of the total exports and 43 percent of the overall imports (Xinhuanews,
2018).
EU-Ukraine
Economic cooperation
Following
the discussions about economic factors of EU-Ukraine relations, should be
pointed out, that In the contemporary period, the European factor is
institutionalized by the Associate Agreement between European Union and
Ukraine, which entered into force in September of 2017. It was the expressive
example of the soft power from the European side. Ukraine is able to get from
the package of aid in about 15 Billion Euro (about 18,5 Billion USA). It is
necessary to point out about the readiness of the European Institutions to
implement about 400 projects in Ukraine within the technical aid program (JARÁBIK & SASSE,
2018) .
Public
opinion in Ukraine about European Union
In should be mentioned, that despite the
above-mentioned problems, today EU and Ukraine are closer with each other than
several years ago.
The idea
of European integration managed to mobilize the Ukrainian society and elite of
this country. Despite the fact, that the trust of the society toward the
promises from the Ukrainian elite somehow decreased, the support of the
European integration is very high. According to the survey, which was conducted
in December of 2017, about 50% of Ukrainian support the idea of European
integration (in 2014 about 59% of Ukrainians supported this idea). According the
same survey, only 16% of Ukrainian are in favor of the integration of the
country to the Eurasian Economic Union (Center for Insights in
Survey Research, 2017).
Non Visa
Regime between EU and Ukraine
Important part of benefits become accessible
immediately. As a result of the bilateral agreement, about 400 000
citizens of Ukraine visited the Schengen zone of EU in 2017. Despite the fact,
that it is less than 1 percent of the population of the country, these process
had significant symbolic character: about 25% of Ukrainian consider, that visa
liberalization with European Union was the main political event of 2017 (Šukytė, 2015) .
Future
Perspectives of EU-Ukraine Relations
The future period will show, how EU manage to
consolidate of those successes, which Ukraine obtained within the last four
years period. Nowadays Brussels hope, that concretely Associate Agreement
represents this responsibility, which gives an opportunity for Ukraine to keep
the right way. The relations between EU and Ukraine are strengthened by one main
factor: No trust toward the Russia. Thus, Ukraine does not try to have any
distance from European Union, it just takes some break before the presidential
election of 2019 with the hope, that country will overcome all those
difficulties, related to the pre election period and election procedures.
Chapter 2. Georgia-EU Relations
Challenges for Georgia on the way of European
Integration:
With regard to Georgia, its challenges are
somehow different from the Ukrainian ones, but, at the same time, before the
both countries which are located on the post-soviet space, there are many
common domestic
and foreign
risks and threats.
As it was
mentioned above, the integration to the European and Euro-Atlantic structures
represents the main priority and sovereign choice of independent Georgia.
European integration will give an opportunity to the country to fulfill the
democratic consolidation and strengthening the national security. The close
cooperation with the European Union is considered, as a main source of the
transferring of Georgia as a European state, which is so important for the
peaceful development of the country.
Associated
Agreement between Georgia and EU is the document, which covers the whole
spectrum of Georgia-EU relations. Agreement creates the mechanism, which
promotes the development of cooperation in such fields, as foreign and security
policy, economic and political freedom, free trade and judiciary issues. To
implement this agreement for Georgia will not be the simple task, because it
requires the gradual harmonization of the legislature to the European
standards, which determines the convenient criteria and list of the concrete
legislation, which should have its reflection on the legal system of Georgia (Goletiani, 2015) .
Despite the fact, that European Union expresses the
readiness to assist the country within the transformation process, the responsibilities
of Georgian government is to provide all necessary measures to make an
appropriate steps for the fulfillment of its responsibilities. This process
requires the mobilization of political activists, human and intellectual
resources. It is necessary to pay more attention especially in the fields of
superiority of law, democratic reforms and protection of human rights,
harmonization of the Georgian legislature with the European standards,
increasing the quality of the Georgian products, with the purpose of the
satisfaction the European standards for the further perspectives of the
increasing the volume of the Georgian export on the European market.
One of
the painful field is the judiciary system, for example the introduction of the
examination period for judges, can radically influence on the independence of
the whole system. It is important, that judges to be free from the political pressure and to be able to
follow just those rules, which are taken into consideration according to laws.
At the same time, any change, which
will influence on the decisions of the court, should be prepared in close
partnership with the representatives of the judiciary power. It is important,
that government should pay attention on the recommendations from International
Organization`s side (Goletiani, 2015) .
At the
same time, government should provide the superiority of law in the country. In
this regard one of the obstacles can be, for example the fact, that in the
agenda of the Associate Agreement between EU and Georgia are included topics
related to the selective justice, (Goletiani, 2015) .
Besides,
existence and strong opposition and civil society represents one of the clear
examples of the introduction the „checks
and balances“ mechanisms.
One of
the main successes of the European community is freedom of information –
particularly, free media. Any involvement of government in the functioning of
the mass-media means makes serious effect on the democratic processes. For
example, the case of Rustavi-2 did negative effect on the international image
of Georgia.
Main other obstacles on the way of
European Integration of Georgia: Together with the
discussion about possibilities of the entrance of Georgia to EU, it should be
reviewed several important aspects, particularly:
Weakness
of democratic institutions in the country
Despite
the fact that EU is mostly economic organization, at the same time, it is the
international regional organization-which includes as a members-only democratic
states – EU is composed of democratic countries which are working jointly on economic,
political, security, legal, cultural etc. issues.
According
to the Freedom House report for 2018, the score of Georgia was 4,68. So,
country is included to the list of the partly free states.
According
to the different parameters, which determines the level of democracy in the
country, within the period 2009-2018, it can be received the following table
(Freedom House, 2018):
Nations
in Transit Ratings and Averaged Scores
|
|
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
2013
|
2014
|
2015
|
2016
|
2017
|
2018
|
|
National Democratic Governance
|
6.00
|
6.00
|
5.75
|
5.75
|
5.50
|
5.50
|
5.50
|
5.50
|
5.50
|
5.50
|
|
Electoral Process
|
5.25
|
5.25
|
5.00
|
5.00
|
4.75
|
4.50
|
4.50
|
4.50
|
4.50
|
4.50
|
|
Civil Society
|
3.75
|
3.75
|
3.75
|
3.75
|
3.75
|
3.75
|
3.75
|
3.75
|
3.75
|
3.75
|
|
Independent Media
|
4.25
|
4.25
|
4.25
|
4.25
|
4.25
|
4.00
|
4.00
|
4.00
|
4.00
|
4.25
|
|
Local Democratic Governance
|
5.50
|
5.50
|
5.50
|
5.50
|
5.50
|
5.50
|
5.25
|
5.25
|
5.25
|
5.25
|
|
Judicial Framework and Independence
|
4.75
|
4.75
|
5.00
|
5.00
|
5.00
|
5.00
|
5.00
|
4.75
|
4.75
|
5.00
|
|
Corruption
|
5.00
|
5.00
|
4.75
|
4.50
|
4.50
|
4.50
|
4.50
|
4.50
|
4.50
|
4.50
|
|
Democracy Score
|
4.93
|
4.93
|
4.86
|
4.82
|
4.75
|
4.68
|
4.64
|
4.61
|
4.61
|
4.68
|
Place
of Georgia according to the Human Development Index
According
to Human Development Index, Georgia is at the 70-th place by 0, 780 scores in
the World (HDI, 2017).
Place
of Georgia in Globalization Index
With regard to the Georgia`s
involvement to the Global process, there are determined by Globalization Index.
According to those parameters, Georgia in 2018 was:
At the 65-th place in the world by
64.13 scores.
By Economic parameters, at the 19-th
place with 83.01 scores.
By Social parameters at the 70-th place
with 57,44 scores.
By Political parameters at the 146-th
place with 57,44 scores (Globalization Index, 2018)
Problems
with socio-economic development
Despite some
reforms on the way of strengthening the principles of market economy, as of the
2017, The Gross Domestic
Product per capita in Georgia was last recorded at 4290.17 US dollars. The GDP
per Capita in Georgia is equivalent to 34 percent of the world's average
(Trading Economics, 2017).
Perspective of
the European Integration of Georgia
Geopolitical
Location
Georgia's
geopolitical parameters is distinguished
by megaprojects of transport -geographical
location. It’s territory is an axis of Europe - Caucasus - Asia
transport. It also constitutes energy corridor (TRACECA), as well it is the
shortest transit line which connects with the countries of Eurasia. At the same
time, Georgia can contribute to the functioning of "Great Silk
Road".
Transport
and energy projects: Georgia is aware of its role in energy resources from the
Caspian Sea and Central Asian regions via alternative routes. Georgia’s Black
Sea ports (turnover of goods of Poti port is between 6-8 million tones per
year, and future capacity of Anaklia port will be about seven million tones,
the Baku-Supsa (capacity five million tones of oil) and Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (capacity
50 million tones) oil pipelines, and the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline (capacity
8 billion cubic meters). These active projects are strategically important for
both regions and rest of the world. Georgia is determined to ensure the
effective functioning of these existing projects and to develop prospective new
ones- such as TANAP project (Capacity from 16 to 32 Billion cubic meters)
(Chitadze, 2015). In this regard it should be mentioned - that the
Implementation of the TANAP (Trans - Anatolian pipeline) TAP (Trans - Adriatic)
projects will promote the further integration of Georgia to the European and
Euro-Atlantic structures. It will solidify Georgian vision toward its
aspiration. In case of the TANAP and TAP projects realization, European states,
countries from South-East Europe will be more interested in the stability of
Georgia, as a transit country in the gas transportation process so they will be
more interested in the EU and NATO membership of Georgia. Together with
energy projects, Georgia is an active participant in such important transport
project – as the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway project. The initiative is
intended to establish a transport corridor linking Azerbaijan to Turkey through
the territory of Georgia by rail. At the same time, the next step is to connect
China with Central Asia, Caucasus, and Europe via railway system - For example,
in late 2015, a goods train took only 15 days to travel from South Korea to
Istanbul through China, transportation of goods by vessel. The railway line is
intended to provide transportation an initial annual volume of 6.5 million
tones with the long-term perspectives to increase the volume of goods up
to 17 million tones (Chitadze, 2015). Projects will promote the further
integration of Georgia to the European and Euro-Atlantic structures. In case of
the projects realization, European states, will be more interested in the
stability of Georgia as a transit country.
Contributions of Georgia before EU in
the field of Defense and Security
The Role of Georgia in EU
Peacekeeping operation (Case of Central Africa)
In
the framework of EU-Georgia cooperation in the field Defense and Security
Georgia has taken the moral responsibility about sending at the first stage 150
military servicemen in Central Africa. In general, about 800-1000 Georgian
military servicemen will implement their mission in this African State, within
the EU Peacekeepers, who, together with about 6000 military servicemen from the
African Union are going to implement the joint operation (Chitadze, 2016).
The
decision about sending the troops in Central Africa has been approved by the
parliament of Georgia practically by the principle of consensus. Furthermore,
which together with Ukraine is the member of EU Eastern Partnership Program, is
going to send several Officers in Mali, within the EU Military Training
Program.
The Corruption
Perceptions Index (CPI)
By corruption
Perception Index, Georgia by 57 scores has 44-th place in the World (CPI, 2018).
Foreign Trade of Georgia and Role and
Place of EU
In
2018 trade turnover become 12 484.4 Million USD, which prevails the data of the
previous year for 17.0%. Import
increased for 14.9% and become 9 122.3 Million USD and export 3 362.1 million
USD and increased for 22.9%.
It
is important to point out the growth of the volume of export to the European
Union. In 2018 export increased for 11,5% and become 730.3 million USD.
At
the same time it is necessary to point out, that on the share of EU in the
Georgian export is coming 21,7%, and on
the share of CIS member states 49,9%. With regard to Import, share of EU in
this case is 28,8% and share of CIS countries 29,6% (National Statistics Office of Georgia, 2019).
Economic
Freedom
Despite
the socio-economic problems in the country, according to the research,
implemented by Heritage Foundation, Georgia improved its position and by 68,6
scores is at the 16-th place in the World and 8-th place in Europe according to
the “Index of Economic Freedom”, with the rank of “mostly free” country
(Heritage Foundation, 2018).
Foreign-policy priorities
It
can be assumed - that Georgia together with Ukraine is practically the only
country in the post-soviet space (except Baltic countries), which clearly
declares its desire to become the plenipotentiary part of the International
Democratic Society. Despite the weakness of the democratic institutions (as it
was mentioned above), in comparison to the most of the post-soviet republics
(who are included to the list of non free states), Georgia is partly free
state. Georgia, respectively with a significant geo -strategic location at the
crossroads of Europe and Asia, has historically been a geographic, political
and cultural part of Europe. Therefore, integration into European and
Euro-Atlantic political, economic and security systems is the firm will of
Georgian people.
In
this regard is important to point out about public support of EU membership.
Public support of EU integration:
According to the last NDI survey, which was presented before the public at the
end of January 2019, about 83% of the population of Georgia supports EU
membership of Georgia, when 78% of respondents support the NATO membership. It
is the highest data after 2013 (Georgian Journal, 2019).
It
is interesting to underline, that the desire of EU membership radically
decreased within the short period after the signing of the associate agreement
with EU in 2014. But it has increased again after the introduction of non –
visa regime by EU for the citizens of Georgia.
Conclusion:
After the gaining of independence, the establishment of the close
relations with European Union was not simple process neither for Georgia nor
for Ukraine. Despite the many obstacles, both countries managed to sign the
Associate Agreement with EU and nowadays both countries are more closer to EU. But, despite
the progress, there are important challenges, before which Georgia and Ukraine
are standing and overcoming of which will be obligatory for both states in the
short-term, midterm and long-term perspectives. Thus, the European Integration
process is a long and winding road. How the both countries will be successful
on this way according to the conditions within the Associate Agreement with EU,
depends on the further policy of the authorities and societies in general of
both states.
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