Differences of the EU-Georgia and the EU-Armenia Relations

The cooperation between the European Union and Georgia and Armenia began with the collapse of the Soviet Union and communism. The first steps in cooperation were a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement signed in 1999 and the Technical Assistance to the Commonwealth of Independent States program, the technical and financial assistance for implementation of economic reforms and democratization. Later, the countries were included in the European Neighborhood Policy, the Eastern Partnership, Association Agreements and Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement. However, Armenia refused to sign Association Agreement in 2013 and joined Eurasian Customs Union (EACU) Russian led. On the other side, Georgia gained allowance for visa-free travel within the Schengen zone in March 2017. The thesis focuses on answering the research question “What explains the varying level of progress in the relations between the EU and Georgia and the EU and Armenia?” It researched all factors affected the process of Europeanization in Armenia and Georgia and analyzed their political background, achievements and obstacles during the cooperation with the EU. The thesis applies qualitative method of research with the use of content analysis of primary sources. Europeanization and EU external governance provide the theoretical tools necessary for analyzing the different levels of progress made in the relationship between the countries and the EU.