As Georgia advances on its path toward European Union (EU) candidacy, the anticipated economic benefits, increased foreign investment, and alignment with European standards present a promising trajectory, worthy of further attention within the following article. The granting of European Union candidate status is a significant political signal, one which represents an initial step towards acknowledging that a candidate country is on the path towards eventual EU membership.

On December 12, ISET Policy Institute hosted a roundtable discussion of joint research of Armenian and Georgian economists on ‘Diverging integration paths of Armenia and Georgia: consequences for export sophistication and diversification’.

On 27 June 2014, Georgia and the EU signed the Association Agreement (AA), including the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA), which fully entered into force on 1 July 2016. The goal of the DCFTA is to provide a framework for new trade opportunities, enhance competitiveness in the business sector, and support closer economic integration between Georgia and the EU based on reforms in trade-related fields.

The goal of the vocational education support programme is to promote the socioeconomic integration of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and ecomigrants and improve their living conditions by creating employment prospects, and it aims to do so by promoting the vocational education of IDPs and ecomigrants in order to increase their competitiveness in the labour market.

Tamar Sulukhia, the Director of ISET and the ISET Policy Institute, took part in a discussion organized within the RECONOMY program. This online forum focused on the ways the Russian invasion of Ukraine has challenged the EU’s approach towards the future of Eastern Partnership countries, as well as prospects for EU integration.