EU Might Include Caucasus in “Wider Europe” Policy

European Union Foreign Ministers met in Brussels on January 26 and agreed on the need for early action by the international community in support of Georgia.

The ministerial council’s draft conclusions on Georgia propose “to bring forward a recommendation on the relationship of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia to the European Neighborhood Policy.”

Irish Foreign Minister Brian Cowen, who has attended Georgia’s new President’s inauguration in Tbilisi on Sunday as Ireland holds the EU External Relations Council’s rotating presidency, said that EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana’s office would recommend by the end of June whether to include the three countries to the EU’s “Wider Europe” policy.

“The [EU External Relations] Council looks forward to considering this recommendation before the end of the Irish Presidency [in June],” the draft conclusion reads.

“The Union will keep the situation in Georgia under close review. We will be watching in particular for progress on tackling corruption, economic reform and strengthening the rule of law,” Cowen told a news conference, Reuters reported.

Javier Solana visited Tbilisi on January 14-15 and said “we want our [EU-Georgian] relationship to strengthen and deepen.”

The EU also urges the Georgian authorities to continue their efforts in preparation for the March 28 parliamentary elections.