The meeting of the European Council on December 14 and 15 was by far the most anticipated summit in Brussels, at which the leaders of the states and governments of the European Union voted to start accession negotiations between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova + Ukraine, and Georgia received the status of a candidate country. The only political figure who opposed such an approach, Viktor Orbán, the prime minister of Hungary, was also persuaded at the last hour in exchange for Georgia’s return to the negotiating table.

Behind the scenes of the European establishment, there were intense discussions about the European course of the Republic of Moldova. There is almost unanimity of voices that firmly confirm that Chisinau deserves to become part of the European family. It is, of course, worth it from a political point of view, first of all, and it is fortunate that the last redoubt in the process of opening negotiations with the EU is not related to technical processes. Because if you look strictly at macroeconomic indicators, the reforms that have been carried out so far (and not those that are being carried out) and the general implementation of the “Copenhagen criteria”, Moldova still has a lot of problems to demonstrate. However, the assessment of the European Commission is encouraging, according to which 94 percent of the reform recommendations have been implemented, and the remaining 6 percent relate to the most difficult and important material – judicial reform and the eradication of corruption, which are part of the deoligarization package. .

According to recent events and new political implications, certain changes are beginning to emerge regarding the EU’s enlargement policy. Because we notice that the expansion package, which consists of Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, returns to the original formula, namely the trio of Ukraine – Moldova – Georgia.

At last year’s meeting of the European Council on June 23, despite the fact that Georgia applied for candidate status in the EU, it was given the “accession prospect” and a list of reforms that must be implemented, effectively separating from Ukraine and Moldova, which received candidate status. The reforms include reducing political polarization and strengthening the independence of the judiciary, areas where there are concerns about some democratic failures like those in Hungary.

Then, on November 8, 2023, when it was only known about the intention of European officials to recommend the start of EU-Moldova and EU-Ukraine negotiations, Georgia reappeared on the landscape with the recommendation that it should still be granted the status of a candidate country.

But there is every reason to believe that Georgia appeared again in the speeches of 27 leaders of states and governments of the EU due to the special attention paid to it by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, where Hungary is considered the main ally of Georgia, with which it signed the Hungarian-Georgian strategic partnership last year. In connection with the approach of an important decision of the European Commission regarding the two countries in the foreground, Ukraine and Moldova, the Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orban, made a last-minute visit to Tbilisi as a gesture of support. The two-day visit in October marked the latest step in a rapidly growing partnership between the two countries, particularly between Orbán and Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili.

The close relationship between the two grew amid a sharp shift toward social conservatism in Georgia’s domestic politics, supported by Garibashvili and the ruling Georgian Dream party. This orientation contributes to the creation of a Georgian identity centered on Christianity and “traditional values”, a direction Orbán has already adopted in Hungary.

While Hungary is already a member of the EU and can challenge the bloc’s rules and principles from within, Georgia pursues similar interests of its own, trying to gain the support of other members for membership. The EU has already faced difficulties with Hungary and froze its cohesion funds and the Hungarian PNRR of about 30 billion, which Budapest used to blackmail and block initiatives proposed by the rest of the bloc, repeatedly using its veto power, including military support for Ukraine. . As a result, there are reservations about accepting another possible member, which could create similar problems, where Moldova and Ukraine are considered far more likely partners, at least in the current configuration.

However, the fact that Georgia’s main ally is Hungary is a double-edged sword because you don’t want an EU state that opposes all majority decisions and always opposes European institutions to be your only supporter. As for Georgia’s chances of EU membership, they remain unclear, because Orbán can strengthen these chances or even completely undermine them.

Although the authorities in Georgia and the Georgian Dream party do not appear to be reliable partners for the European Union, bringing Georgia closer to the EU by granting it the status of a candidate country could bring more benefits to Georgians who are constantly protesting the EU. flag. Instead of losing the country entirely and allowing it to move closer to Russia, it would be better if this silent barter between Orbán and most EU leaders took place and Georgia received candidate status in exchange for the start of negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova.

Of course, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán agreed to have coffee with Olaf Scholz, the German Chancellor, right during this historic vote in the European Council to allow the decision to start negotiations for Moldova and Ukraine, practically abstaining and not against several reasons – so as not to hinder the enlargement policy once and for all, to unlock funds from the cohesion policy (10 billion euros). Instead, he used the right of veto on an equally important issue for the Ukrainian resistance, namely the blocking of a support package worth 50 billion euros.

The meeting of the European Council at the end of the week also symbolizes the desire of the current mandate of the European Union to leave as a legacy, first of all, greater clarity on the European Union’s enlargement policy. But what is more important is to draw an irreversible path regarding the aspirations, first of all, of Ukraine and Moldova, as well as Georgia. Because now, more than ever, Ukraine needed a favorable decision on the start of negotiations for the morale and fervent desire of the Ukrainian population, which is waging an inclusive war, to prove that Ukrainians are Europeans and courageously defend Europe. And Moldova will be part of the European Union, because the support of the pro-European vector enjoys a crushing majority, where the current government has started the reform process. – Read the entire article and comment on contributors.ro