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countries, while the EU membership perspective was offered to Georgia.
Furthermore, in June 2024, the EU launched accession talks with Ukraine
and Moldova. At the same time, Georgia was granted the EU candidacy.
Thus, many in the EU neighborhood see the Union as a priority political
and economic partner which brings well-being and progress.

This chapter describes the EU accession process in a structured way
and a schematic manner, underscoring the role of the EU institutions
in this process. The chapter will also outline the trajectory of Georgia’s
accession to the Union based on relevant provisions of EU legislation
and EU practices.

EU Legislation Behind the EU Accession Process,
Accession Criteria and Accession Stages

Article 49 of the Treaty of the European Union represents the main legal
basis for accessing the Union. It stipulates that any European state
which respects human dignity, fundamental freedoms, democracy,
equality, the rule of law and human rights, including minority rights,
may apply to become an EU member.
Furthermore, the following criteria for EU membership have been
introduced at the EU Copenhagen summit of 1993: 96
- Political Criteria: The applicant state should have stabile
democratic institutions which can guarantee democracy, the
rule of law and the protection of human rights, including
minority rights.
- Economic Criteria: The applicant State should be a functional
market economy in order to cope with competitive pressure
from the part of other market forces in the EU.
- Administrative and Institutional Criteria: the ability to take
on the obligations of membership, including the capacity to
effectively implement the rules, standards and policies that
make up the body of EU law, and adherence to the aims of
political, economic and monetary union.
96 Accession Criteria (Copenhagen Criteria)
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/summary/glossary/accession_criteria_copenhague.html