New Report: Democratization Will Be Essential to Georgia’s European Integration

As Georgia seeks to integrate into Europe, it must advance political and economic reforms, according to the findings of a new report by the Atlantic Council.

The report, Georgia in the West: A Policy Road Map to Georgia's Euro-Atlantic Future, is the product of a task force chaired by Senators Jeanne Shaheen, D-NH, and Lindsey Graham, R-SC. NDI President Kenneth Wollack was among the 24 task force members.

Democratic reforms will be critical to Georgia’s acceptance in the Euro-Atlantic community, according to the report. “While the speed of reform in Georgia has been impressive, the long and arduous tasks of building strong and independent institutions, restoring a healthy civil society and ensuring a competitive electoral environment will be critical in cementing the legacy of the Rose Revolution and Georgia’s transformation into a mature democracy.”

The next two years will be particularly significant in that process. “Parliamentary elections in 2012 and a presidential contest in 2013 will test Georgia’s commitment to the democratic reforms that are a necessary part of its Euro-Atlantic integration,” the report said. “They will also represent a watershed moment in Georgia’s post-Soviet history; an opportunity to witness Georgia’s first peaceful, democratic transfer of power.”

To bolster U.S.-Georgia relations and support Georgia’s political, security and economic future, the report said, the United States should:

Put democracy assistance at the core of foreign aid, including making clear the importance of electoral reform, strengthening civil society organizations and bolstering free media;

Protect and support Georgia’s territorial integrity;

Improve security and defense cooperation; and

Support Georgia’s economic development and promote its economic integration with Europe.

To transform Georgia internally, the report said, Georgia’s government and civil society should:

Bolster Georgia’s democratic institutions, including empowering parliament, strengthening judicial independence, participating in the democratic process, encouraging free media, and supporting a competitive electoral environment;
Work with allies to protect territorial integrity; and
Foster sustainable economic growth.

“Georgia must find the right balance between modernization and democratization, balancing the pace of reform with a greater focus on building institutions and bolstering plurality,” the report said. “Georgia’s political stability will ultimately rest on the government’s ability to allow for public dissent and participation in a more inclusive political process.”

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Published October 17, 2011