Eastern Europe
In Georgia, EU opens first European School outside the bloc’s borders
In line with EU aims to deepen relations with the Eastern Partnership countries, EU and Georgian officials on Monday (16 September) launched a European School in Tbilisi, the first educational institution of this kind launched beyond the bloc’s boundaries.
EU calls ‘unacceptable’ the tensions at Georgia occupation line
The ambassador of the EU to Georgia called “unacceptable” on Friday (30 August) the tensions and confrontational language at the “border” between Georgia and its occupied territory of South Ossetia.
Batumi and Sokhumi: A tale of two cities
Unresolved conflicts in Georgia don’t serve the interest of local populations on either side of the artificial divide and may not serve Russia’s own interests in long term, writes Ketevan Tsikhelashvili.
Georgia’s European Economic Area ambitions
As the EU suffers from “enlargement fatigue”, perhaps the European Economic Area membership will prove a useful stepping stone for Georgia in its rightful quest to join the Union, writes Fraser Cameron.
Hungary and Ukraine exchange warnings over Transcarpathia
Tensions have worsened between Budapest and Kyiv over a Ukrainian language law, which Hungary considers hostile to its minority population in the Transcarpathia region
Moldova FM: We want to move as quickly as possible on EU accession
There is a high consensus in Moldova that we want good relations with Brussels and Moscow, but we have no alternative to strong pro-European integration, Moldova's new foreign minister, Nicu Popescu, told EURACTIV.com in an exclusive interview.
Georgian government dismisses pro-Russia bias claims
A leading opposition politician has accused the Georgian government of pro-Russian bias, tacitly condoned by the EU, but representatives of the ruling party, as well as diplomats, insist there is a consensus on big geopolitical matters and the entire country is pro-Western.
Germany tells the East: Speed up reform or you will lose your population
Germany’s minister of state for Europe delivered a blunt message to a gathering of the Eastern Partnership, organised in the Georgian Black Sea city of Batumi on Thursday (11 July): unless reforms in Eastern Europe speed up, its young people will leave to find a better life in Western Europe.
Slovak president attacks Beijing’s human rights record
Slovakian president Zuzana Čaputová has criticised Beijing for not respecting human rights, during a visit by China's foreign affairs chief on Wednesday (10 July). Wang Yi was in Slovakia to discuss the involvement of the Visegrád Four in the Silk Road project.
Georgia suggests taking an unconventional path to EU accession
Georgia staked its claim to becoming an EU member on Thursday (11 July), even if it meant an innovative approach and "knocking on every door", its president told an international conference marking the tenth anniversary of the Eastern Partnership in the Georgian Black Sea city of Batumi. VideoPromoted content
A partnership that matters: 10 years and beyond
Georgia invites you at the Black Sea resort of Batumi on July 11 and 12 to join the Annual Conference dedicated to the 10 anniversary of the eastern partnership. The conference will celebrate Europe’s achievements and spark a reflection on its future.
What is the Eastern Partnership and what it’s not
Georgia intends to continue on its path to EU membership and wants to use all available opportunities and instruments to achieve this self-proclaimed objective, writes David Zalkaliani.
Thousands in Tbilisi demand Georgia’s de-oligarchisation
Thousands of anti-government protesters rallied on Monday (24 June) in the Georgian capital for the fifth consecutive day as the increasingly unpopular ruling party's promise of sweeping reforms failed to appease mass demonstrations.
Georgian protesters slam ‘Putinism’, raise pressure on ruling oligarch
Several thousand anti-government protesters took to the streets of the Georgian capital Tbilisi for a fourth day on Sunday (24 June) as tensions rose between Moscow and its ex-Soviet neighbour.
Thousands of protesters try to storm Georgia parliament
Thousands of protesters attempted Thursday (20 June) to storm the Georgian parliament in Tbilisi, furious that a Russian lawmaker addressed the assembly from the speaker's seat during an international event.
Ambassador: For Georgia, the Eastern Partnership means a lot
In a wide-ranging interview, the Ambassador of Georgia to the EU talked about the lessons learned from 10 years of Eastern Partnership, her country’s reforms, relations with neighbours, including the biggest one – Russia.
Georgia remembers its 9 April
On 9 April 1989, Soviet tanks rolled into Tbilisi, and Georgians realised Gorbachev’s regime was just as steeped in blood as that of his predecessors. Thirty years on, Georgia remembers its heroes, writes Natalie Sabanadze.
With Salome Zurabishvili, Georgia leads the way, again
The new president of Georgia, Salome Zurabishvili, is a worthy member of the small group of women in the club of world heads of state and government, writes Clare Moody.
Georgia’s new president seeks unity after vote protests
Georgia's incoming President Salome Zurabishvili vowed to reconcile political divisions and deepen ties with NATO and Europe at Sunday's inauguration that opposition protesters were blocked from reaching.
Former French diplomat wins Georgia presidential election
Results from Georgia’s presidential runoff showed the ruling party-backed candidate, who favours balancing the ex-Soviet republic’s relations with Moscow and the West, defeating her rival who advocates a stronger pro-Western line.
Rival diplomats to dispute second round of Georgia presidential election
Ex-French diplomat Salome Zurabishvili has taken a slight lead in Georgia's presidential election, seen as a crucial test for the increasingly unpopular ruling party, results showed on Monday (29 October).
Georgia’s culture boom
Many praise Georgia as being a good pupil in the Eastern Partnership class, but cementing contacts between Georgia and EU citizens is much more than signing political agreements, writes Mikheil Batiashvili.
Georgia’s European way: What next?
The offer by the European Commission to let the College meet on an annual basis with Georgia’s leadership is unique when comparing it to relations between the EU and other third countries, writes Steven Blockmans.
