Georgia received the status of a candidate from the European Union!
1.Brief story of previous facts that happened before getting candidacy status
2.Why is EU candidate status so important for Georgia?
3.What is candidate status for the EU and what are the advantages?
Georgia needed a whole year and nine months to go from application to candidacy. The decision made public by the European Council on December 14 was described as historical. The path to become a candidate was fraught with challenges, intense political controversy, and equally intense criticism.
Brief story of previous facts that happened before getting candidacy status
The Russian invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent outbreak of a massive and brutal war in the neighboring country created a window of opportunity for European unification. Prior to it, there was not even a single document available anywhere regarding Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine from a European standpoint.
Four days after the conflict began, on February 28, 2022, Ukraine submitted an application to join the EU; on March 3, 2022, Moldova and Georgia did the same.
Following their applications, Moldova and Ukraine were granted candidate status in three months. It has been a year and nine months in the case of Georgia.
Why is EU candidate status so important for Georgia?
Though European leaders and experts frequently clarify that new prospects are opening up for countries and that there are genuine opportunities for practical benefits, it is true that EU candidate countries do not now have an immediate and clear financial payoff.
The European Union partially opened its doors to three additional states last year: Moldova, Ukraine, and Bosnia-Herzegovina. These states' receipt of candidate status for EU membership—a document indicating that, should certain requirements be fulfilled—opened certain doors toward eventual full membership in the EU.
As you are aware, Georgia was supposed to earn candidate status last year; however, what we got was a promise and a twelve-point plan. The European Union instructed us to put the recommendations into practice, and at the end of the year, we will revisit the tale of Georgia. This story was told a long time ago, and some of the advice has since been put into practice, while others have not.
What is candidate status for the EU and what are the advantages?
Eight nations have been designated as EU candidates thus far, one of which is Turkey, a neighbor of ours. Turkey was designated as a candidate back in 1999, but since then, the process of European integration has been put on hold. Generally speaking, all sides should gain from Turkey's entry. As you are aware, 85 million people call Turkey home, and the nation's GDP is valued at 905 billion dollars. Naturally, the European states stand to gain from such a state's admission to the EU, but President Erdogan has other ideas.
The European Union's doors were partially opened after Turkey on multiple occasions, such as in 2005 when Macedonia was granted candidate status and in 2010 when Montenegro was granted the same status. In 2022, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Ukraine, and Moldova were added to the list of candidate nations, while Serbia and Albania shared the status in 2012.
Georgia's economy is doing better than that of the five candidate states, so we are not doing too badly in this regard. However, if we look at the gross domestic product statistics of the candidate countries, we will see that Serbia, Turkey, and Ukraine lead the top three.
You might be wondering what exactly candidate status entails and what benefits it offers
By awarding this status, the European Union acknowledges that the nation genuinely has the desire and capacity to join the Union, even though it is not yet prepared. Should certain requirements be satisfied, however, it will be eligible to formally become a member of the Union. Put simply, this is the EU's highest level of political recognition of the nation; membership is the next step up.
Candidate status permits one to access EU financial resources as well as political recognition. With this designation, Georgia can now join the 14 billion euro pre-accession financing instrument known as IPA. This tool is associated with an investment and economic plan that aims to raise 30 billion euros from global financial organizations like the EIB, IMF, and EBRD.
Additionally, the candidate states are eligible to receive funds from the 19 billion dollar Neighborhood Development Fund, which can be applied to national development and economic advancement.
Furthermore, the 11 educational programs offered by the European Union to candidate nations are limited to those that are currently in operation in Georgia, including Erasmus+.
The total amount of help that the European Union has given to Georgia over the years is six billion Laris. Furthermore, the European Union provides financial instruments, grants, soft loans, and other initiatives to the nation.
Given everything, it is safe to say that Georgia's election to candidate status is a huge success for the nation, even though there is still much work to be done before the celebrations can begin. After all, the Georgian people want to join the European Union, not give up on their candidacy.
In Conclusion
In conclusion, Georgia's attainment of candidate status from the European Union marks a significant milestone in its efforts to integrate with the EU. This achievement reflects the country's commitment to democratic reforms, good governance, and respect for human rights. As Georgia continues on its path towards EU membership, it must remain steadfast in implementing necessary reforms and addressing outstanding challenges. The support and cooperation of both Georgia and the EU will be crucial for further progress towards full membership. With determination and continued collaboration, Georgia can pave the way for a stronger partnership with the European Union and bring about mutual benefits for both parties.
