Georgia’s European Way: Reflections by an EU Ambassador to Georgia

SILK ROAD FORUM with Ambassador Per Eklund

Tuesday, January 18, 2011, 14:00-16:00

The 2003 Rose Revolution in Georgia raised expectations and hopes. Would it be possible to develop the then failed state into a Western style democracy with strong institutions, in order to establish a liberal economic system and eradicate corruption? The challenges for President Michail Saakashvili were enormous, and the political encouragement and development support from the West substantial. We have seen remarkable achievements but also experienced some not so encouraging events; the 2007 crisis, the 2008 war followed by parliamentary and presidential elections of varying quality. What lessons have been drawn by the Government and its supporters in the West? Is there a European Way for Georgia?

Ambassador Per Eklund joined the European Commission (EC)  in 1997, and started working on EU assistance first to Russia, then to all ex-Soviet Union countries. He has travelled extensively in the region and negotiated assistance programs with the different governments.  Ambassador Eklund first visited Georgia in 1998,  then in  a difficult social, political and economic situation. In 2003, the year of the Rose Revolution, he left Brussels and assumed the post as ambassador and head of the EC Delegation to Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba. In November 2006 he was appointed ambassador and head of the EU Delegation to Georgia, a post from which he retired in November 2010.

Location: ISDP, Västra Finnbodavägen 2, Stockholm-Nacka. For a map and directions, please go here.

To attend: RSVP to Ms. Martina Klimesova at mklimesova@isdp.eu