Economists often assert that everything begins and ends with economics. It’s difficult to argue with this notion when considering aspects of our well-being—such as accessible and high-quality healthcare, top-tier education, a decent pension, and good working conditions. Simply put, a good life and a dignified old age are all fundamentally linked to the economy. It's no coincidence that the stronger and more robust a country's economy is, the better the quality of life there tends to be. People from other nations aspire to move to these economically successful countries to find employment, receive education, obtain medical treatment, and more. In short, the economy shapes the lives and futures of billions of people, many of whom may not even realize it. But who or what determines the economy itself?
Approximately 70 years ago, following the devastating impact of the Second World War on the European continent, the economy became the cornerstone of unity among nations. It fostered reconciliation and the formation of a shared vision of well-being. This led to the creation of the first European community in 1951 by six Western European countries, a community that has since grown and evolved significantly.
The core idea of the European Union (EU) is freedom. There are four fundamental freedoms within the EU economy that are essential to creating wealth, competitive advantage, and accelerated growth in the global economy. These four freedoms apply to all EU member states, encompassing 450 million people and creating the world's largest single market. These freedoms are: 1) the free movement of goods, 2) the free movement of services, 3) the free movement of capital, and 4) the free movement of people (labor force).
What do these four freedoms mean for any EU citizen? They provide a unique opportunity for every citizen to move freely, find employment, and live in any EU country without additional barriers such as visas or work permits, requiring only their national ID card. Any entrepreneur, firm, or large corporation has the ability to sell goods or services in any EU country without facing technical or economic barriers. For instance, a French winemaker and a Polish farmer have equal opportunities to sell their products in the other 26 EU countries without the burden of additional bureaucracy, paperwork, or taxes, just as they would in their home country. They can also receive income from any EU country within seconds, without encountering banking barriers or intermediaries.
This is the essence of the EU's single market, which creates a large and strong economy, millions of jobs, prosperity, and new opportunities for about 450 million people every day. These opportunities make the EU an attractive destination for other countries.
It is no coincidence that every country on the European continent aspires to join the EU. Among many other factors, this aspiration distinguishes the EU from the Soviet Union, where several countries, including Georgia, were forcibly integrated against their will, through bloodshed and the sacrifice of freedom.
As of today, the EU's GDP—or the total value of all goods and services produced within the Union—exceeds €15 trillion, making the EU and its members significant players in the global economy. (For example, Germany's GDP is €3.8 trillion, France's is €2.8 trillion, Italy's is €1.9 trillion, and Spain's is €1.2 trillion.) In comparison, Georgia's GDP is only €28.4 billion.
The economic wealth of the EU countries is fairly distributed among their citizens. The average median salary in the EU is quite high, at €2791. Although this figure varies by country, it significantly exceeds Georgia's average of €437. For comparison, in EU member countries of similar size to Georgia, the median salary is several times higher. For example: Estonia - €1600, Croatia - €1326, Latvia - €1500, Slovakia - €1500, Lithuania - €1700, and Finland - €3315.
In the modern world, economic inequality among citizens often remains a challenge, frequently becoming the root of poverty and other social difficulties. This problem is also acute in Georgia, making life difficult for many people. Interestingly, the level of social inequality is the lowest in smaller EU countries such as the Czech Republic, Slovenia, and Slovakia, allowing the citizens of these countries to live with dignity.
The EU aims to reduce economic disparities among member states and to equalize living standards as much as possible. This is not an easy task because, before joining the EU, each country had a different past and varying levels of development. To overcome these disparities, the EU invests heavily in new member states, primarily focusing on the development of infrastructure, the economy, transport, and energy sectors. For example, from 2021 to 2027, €42 billion are being allocated to develop various economic sectors within member states, with a significant portion dedicated to infrastructure, the economy, and energy in the most recently joined countries. (For instance: Estonia - €952 million, Latvia - €1.204 billion, Lithuania - €1.645 billion, Bulgaria - €1.467 billion, Romania - €4.094 billion, Slovakia - €1.868 billion.)
Georgia's movement toward Europe and the West in general did not start at the end of the 20th century. Our ancestors began paving this path much earlier. In Georgian understanding, Europe and the Western world have never been just a geographical space located west of our country; they have always been associated with a value system that includes democracy, freedom, and tolerance. Loyalty to preserving these values has fundamentally determined the crucial role of Western civilization at various stages of human development. The constant striving for this world and full membership in it has been Georgia's path for centuries.
Since the restoration of independence, Georgia's foreign policy orientation has been continuously and firmly connected with the goal of full membership in the European family. From the same period, political relations between Georgia and the EU began, with the main cornerstone being the recognition of Georgia's statehood and unwavering support for its territorial integrity, which was the most pressing issue for our country at the time. Equally important was the support provided to an extremely collapsed economy amid major geopolitical upheavals, civil, and territorial conflicts.
The EU began providing financial assistance to Georgia in 1992 when our country was included in the TACIS program. This was the EU's technical assistance program aimed primarily at supporting the transition of young democratic states to a market economy and strengthening state institutions.
In 1999, a more comprehensive agreement between the EU and Georgia came into force, covering many areas and promoting the harmonization and approximation of Georgian legislation with EU standards. Georgia took significant steps in this direction, which became the basis for even greater financial assistance from the EU. From the EU's assistance programs, Georgian state institutions received €603 million from 2001 to 2011, which was unprecedented financial support in the EU's eastern neighborhood on a per capita basis during this period.
In addition to the necessary financial support for developing state institutions, during the most challenging period of Georgia's recent history, EU countries opened their doors to thousands of Georgian emigrants. Amid severe social conditions, starting from the 1990s, many citizens left Georgia and emigrated to European countries, particularly Italy, Greece, and Germany. To this day, remittances from emigrants in European countries remain a significant source of income for many Georgian families. These funds have also played a crucial role in stimulating Georgia's economy over the decades. In the 2000s, Georgians began to appreciate European standards, quality, and living conditions. From this period, the word "European" in our consciousness came to signify high quality, reliability, and stability.
In 2014, Georgia signed an Association Agreement with the EU, marking a new phase in Georgia-EU relations. With the Association Agreement, Georgia committed to taking significant steps toward European values and standards, primarily involving the approximation of Georgian legislation to European legislation. In return, Georgia gained the opportunity for free trade with the EU. A free trade agreement represents the highest level in international economic relations, allowing the parties to trade with each other without tariffs and other technical barriers. Since the restoration of independence, this agreement has been a breakthrough in Georgia's foreign trade policy, as goods produced in Georgia can enter European markets without customs and other barriers. The free trade agreement also includes similar conditions for the import of European goods into Georgia.
Besides simplifying international trade and opening the 500-million-strong EU market to Georgian products, the free trade agreement with the EU has many other benefits for the Georgian economy. With this agreement and its effective implementation, awareness of Georgian products in the European market increases, and Georgian firms have the opportunity to participate in international competition, a crucial prerequisite for development and growth in the modern economy.
Starting in 2017, the EU introduced visa-free travel for Georgian citizens to the Schengen area, enabling hundreds of thousands of Georgians to travel to European countries easily and affordably. For many people who could previously only dream of traveling to Europe, this dream became a reality under visa-free conditions. Labor migration to European countries and opportunities for students to study there also became more accessible. Europe and its benefits became easily attainable for hundreds of thousands of Georgians.
Beyond providing these benefits to ordinary citizens, the EU has systematically and fundamentally financed the development of state institutions and long-term reforms in Georgia, which should ultimately reflect on the well-being of Georgian citizens and facilitate Georgia's integration into the European Union. For example, between 2019 and 2024, the public sector received €517.82 million in funding from the EU, distributed among the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure, local governments, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, and other state institutions. In comparison, during the same period, civil society organizations received €46.1 million (11 times less), and the private sector received €6.1 million from the EU.
Despite the EU’s financial assistance and the successive stages of integration that Georgia has actively pursued since 2014, the issue of Georgia’s EU membership had never been a tangible possibility until 2022. The geopolitical changes that began in Europe that year, alongside Ukraine’s courageous fight for freedom, opened an unprecedented window of opportunity for Georgia—the expansion of the EU and Georgia’s potential membership. What once seemed unimaginable, even to the most optimistic observers in Brussels and Tbilisi, became a reality when Georgia was granted candidate status in December 2023. This development made it clear that Georgia’s accession to the EU is not an unattainable dream, but a realistic possibility that is now clearly within reach. To make this possibility a reality, however, Georgia must follow the right political course and rapidly implement the necessary reforms.
What does EU membership mean for Georgia? For Georgia, being part of the European family is deeply connected to political and national identity; it represents the logical conclusion of a path that many generations of Georgians have pursued with hope and a dedicated struggle for freedom. Beyond this, EU membership signifies social and economic well-being for Georgia—something every Georgian, whether a student, an emigrant parent, a teacher, a doctor, a scientist, or a pensioner, has long awaited. The EU represents the hope for a dignified life, development, and prosperity for all. The experiences of other countries that have joined the EU affirm that this hope is credible and achievable.
However, as Georgia stands on the threshold of EU membership, the real danger of losing this opportunity is also evident. Failing to secure a European future would not only mean missing a historic opportunity but would also constitute a betrayal of our own aspirations and future.
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