#Georgia_EU: The idea of offering EU candidate status to Georgia by the end of 2023 has both "pros" and "cons". Explaining: 1) The EU should advance Georgia's status only if it implements all 12 requirements. This is a political and technical necessity to comply with the⤵️
https://twitter.com/alexkavtaradze_/status/1636424440006230031
meritocratic principle; 2) However, the EU can choose to do so next year after the 2024 elections, requiring as a precondition the good organization of the elections. The downside of this will be the mobilization of protest votes against the EU, which the ruling party will⤵️
accuse of not complying. The attempt to adopt the “foreign agent” draft showed that the ruling party is cable to turn to an illiberal path at any time. 3) Postponing the granting of the EU candidacy, if the 12 conditions are met (at a technical level) it will run serious⤵️
risks for the EU. The ruling party in Georgia will accuse the EU of inconsistency and politicization, especially if the EU opens negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova; 4) Offering the EU candidacy (only if the conditions are met) could also empower the opposition and⤵️
civil society to hold the govt to account. However, the potential for protests should not be overestimated. Old and new institutionalized mechanisms should be put in place to advance reforms, instead of relying on the fact the protests can serve as a magic wand.
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