History Of Establishment And Development Of Relations Between The South Caucasus And The EU

Abstract

The aim of the article is to define and analyze the stages of development and formation of relations between the South Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia) and the European Union (EU) and other European organizations in a historical retrospective, as well as to identify possible prospects for expanding and strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation and interaction in the near future. At the same time, the analysis of activities of South Caucasian countries in the European organizations is narrowed to aspects that influence the process of European integration of these countries. Methods. In the research process a wide range of methods of scientific knowledge were used: analysis, synthesis, induction, deduction, generalization, systematization, forecasting, comparison. Results. During the research special attention was given to the terms and determinants of the formation of the European vector of development of the countries of the South Caucasus at the turn of the XX-XXI centuries. The evolution of understanding and key aspects of the development and structuring of the EU policy regarding the development strategy of the South Caucasian region in general, as well as the need of participation and support of the South Caucasian countries in maintenance of national security and building state institutions, developing the economy and the humanitarian sphere are defined. In order to conduct a systematic analysis of evolution of relations between European and South Caucasian countries three historical stages were emphasized. Within the framework of each stage initiatives and ongoing cooperative programs are characterized, as well as key areas for establishing partnerships between the South Caucasian republics and European countries. Besides stages of the formation of conditions, the signing of agreements and implementing an action plan for EU membership of the South Caucasian countries were studied in historical retrospective. Conclusion. The results of the study led to the conclusion that, in the 1990s, the EU to a large extent viewed the South Caucasus binded to Moscow, taking into account the presence of Russia in the region and its active actions. The situation changed in 2000s, when the EU’s interests and its interaction with the region deepened, and also after the armed conflict in Georgia, when Europe was concerned about the necessity of respecting and strengthening security in the region. Eventually security policy was supplemented by new dimensions of cooperation such as political, economic, humanitarian.