The article discusses the current situation in Georgia, where the government has been cracking down on opposition and democracy, and the European Union (EU) has not responded adequately to this crisis. The author argues that the EU’s failure to respond is a failure of foreign policy agency, as it sends a signal that norm-breaking is acceptable and tolerated.
The article suggests that the EU should take stronger action against the Georgian government, including suspending visa-free travel and imposing economic sanctions on senior officials and their enablers. The author also proposes reviving the idea of a “coalition of the willing” to coordinate responses across all relevant domains and ensure unified European action.
The author emphasizes that any further steps should be based on the understanding that the situation is urgent, and that the consequences of inaction could be far-reaching for both Georgia and its people. The article concludes by calling on the EU to up the ante and respond with confidence to the Georgian government’s overtures, or risk losing credibility as a foreign policy actor.
Key points from the article:
* The EU has failed to respond adequately to the human rights crisis in Georgia.
* The Georgian government has been cracking down on opposition and democracy.
* Suspending visa-free travel and imposing economic sanctions are among the measures that the EU could take against the Georgian government.
* Reviving the idea of a “coalition of the willing” could help coordinate responses across all relevant domains.
* The consequences of inaction could be far-reaching for both Georgia and its people.
* The EU must up the ante and respond with confidence to the Georgian government’s overtures.
