2nd ZIF Expert Dialogue on the extended Black Sea Region

Since the beginning of the Russian war on Ukraine, many in Georgia worry that their country could become the next target of a Russian invasion. At the same time Georgia is experiencing massive domestic political polarization and a stagnation on key issues of the EU reform process, which could endanger the country's stability in the long term.  

On 26 September, ZIF organized an exclusive Expert Dialogue to discuss the impact of the war on the South Caucasus region, the current domestic political and security situation in Georgia, as well as the possible role of the European Union (EU), especially in the context of Georgia's aspiration to join the EU. Nearly 15 experts and diplomats of the Federal Foreign Office working on the region took part in the hybrid exchange, which was part of a series of ZIF events on the extended Black Sea region.  

The lively exchange started with a high-level panel with inputs from Tinatin Khidaheli, Chairperson at Civic Idea, Paata Gaprindashvili, Director of Georgia's Reforms Associates (GRASS) and Stefan Meister, Programme Director "International Order and Democracy" at the German Council on Foreign Relations, which were commented by Andreas Wittkowsky and facilitated by Wilfried Jilge (both ZIF).