The Role of the EU in the South Caucasus

This issue examines the role of the EU in the South Caucasus by analyzing recent developments in its policies and their impact in the three South Caucasus countries. Smolnik examines the EU's conflict resolution policies in the region, in particular the "non-recognition and engagement" strategy towards Abkhazia and South Ossetia and the possibilities of its extension to Nagorno Karabakh, and argues that the EU has not capitalized enough on its standing as a neutral mediator so far. Mayer studies variations in the alignment of the South Caucasus countries with the EU's Common and Foreign Security Policy (CFSP) and observes that alignment is high where material benefits exist. Ter-Gabrielyan analyzes the EU's support to civil society in the South Caucasus by reflecting on the lessons learned in the participation of a group of Armenian NGOs in the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum and concludes that in order for the Civil Society Forum to have an impact, the NGOs must themselves have a strong commitment to high ethical and professional standards. Kochoradze examines the potential of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) between the EU and Georgia to foster Europeanization and observes that Georgia's commitment to a European path needs to go beyond security considerations and fully embrace the European model if the country wants to reap the benefits of the DFCTA. Mammadli analyzes the potential of the Eastern Partnership policies to foster human rights and democracy in Azerbaijan and concludes that the EU's political support is needed to ensure the genuine participation of civil society and political parties in the Eastern Partnership that goes beyond technical assistance programs.