Nika Chitadze
Abstract

The principal objective of the work is to highlight the special role of the European Union (EU) in the settlement of the conflicts in Georgia and the deoccupation of the two regions of Georgia.

It would not be insignificant to note that the need for transforming the conflict regulation and peacekeeping operations process in Georgia into one of the principal directions of the EU activities has been rising ever since the cessation of the United Nations Organization (UNO) and EU activities in the occupied regions. The EU played a decisive role in bringing to a stop the Russian aggression in Georgia in August 2008, let alone the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM), which has provided the framework for the deployment of up to 200 observers patrolling the Georgian territory adjacent to the occupied zones.

In terms of cooperation between the NATO and the EU in the defence and security area one needs to note the Berlin Plus agreement, which provided the EU with an opportunity to employ the NATO resources, including the satellite communication system and heavy aviation. Moreover, it is necessary to underline the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP), providing a framework which could be made use of for considering the EU peacekeeping experience gained in Bosnia and Macedonia and implementing it practically in Georgia in order to activate the peacekeeping and observation activities.

The Europe stands in need of the settlement of the conflicts as it would assure the European energy security concerns and secure the stable functioning of the energy corridor traversing the South Caucasus. The Europe and the USA are concerned with its safe functioning as it provides an alternative to the Persian Gulf and Russia source for importing oil and gas. For this reason, the long-term stability of the Caucasus and the Black Sea Region and their integration with Europe are of a paramount significance for the energy security of the EU and the NATO member countries. Therefore, the European interest in the acceleration of the deoccupation of Georgia process is rising gradually.