Georgia's Euro-Atlantic Aspiration and Energy Transit Role in Light of the Ukraine Crisis

The on-going crisis in the Ukraine is one of the most pressing concerns for Europe today, augmenting new security threats and fears on the European continent and producing uncertainties and contradictions in envisioning Europe's future. “Sanction race” with Russia jeopardizes Europe’s much needed natural gas supplies. This new reality raises Georgia’s strategic importance as a crucial energy corridor for the Caspian energy resources to reach European markets. The Ukraine Crsisis also calls into question the viability of Georgia’s EU and NATO membership aspiration. The proposed paper will examine Georgia’s energy transit role in the European Union's energy security and Georgia's European integration prospects in light of the new geo-political context. The proposed research is on-the-ground study based on in-depth interviews with relevant public officials, foreign policy makers and civil society representatives in Georgia and the representatives of the EU institutions in Brussels. Based on my research findings, I also present policy recommendations geared to the European and Georgian decision makers.