Leiden University Student Repository

Bidzinashvili, Mariam (2020)

EU's Non-Recognition and Engagement Policy Towards Occupied Territories of Georgia: Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region

Master thesis

Following the 2008 Russo-Georgian War, the Russian Federation officially recognized the independence of Georgian breakaway territories of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region (also referred to as Samachablo or South Ossetia). In December 2009, EU adopted a document on Non-recognition and Engagement Policy (NREP) towards Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Policy’s non-recognition dimension stands to demonstrate support for Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty, whereas engagement envisages de-isolating conflict regions. Since the policy has been deployed for more than a decade a question of why the NREP has proven to be largely ineffective in terms of meeting its objectives occurs. Thus, the work sheds the lights on the actors responsible for NREP deficiencies: the EU, Russia, Georgia, Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region. The work identifies specific areas where drawbacks transpired and offers recommendations for better effectiveness of the policy in question.

Confidence-building

Europeanisation

NREP

Engagement

De-isolation

Creeping recognition

Author

Bidzinashvili, Mariam

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Specialisation

MA of European Politics and Society

Supervisors

Skalamera, Morena

ECTS Credits

30

Language

en