Expanding the EU Digital Agenda to Georgia, Increasing Digital Cooperation and Connectivity

The European Union has shown its support for the development of the Eastern Partnership (EaP) by formulating various policy frameworks such as the Association Agreement, the DCFTA, 20 Deliverables for 2020, and Beyond 2020. However, the EU’s digital agenda has not been integrated into this framework, and policy issues within the digital domain have not been sufficiently addressed. This policy paper proposes the expansion of the EU’s digital agenda into the EaP region, with a particular focus on Georgia. The paper analyzes the potential impact of an extension of the EU’s Digital Service Act and Digital Market Act to Georgia. Through this analysis, it advocates for the extension of the EU’s digital agenda to better align with the strategic priorities and needs of Georgia, outlining two potential models for integration.

Key words: EU digital agenda, EU integration, Eastern Partnership (EaP), Digital Services Act (DSA), Digital Market Act (DMA), Georgia’s Candidacy Status, Western Balkan Model, Candidate Country Model

Policy Brief #54 | October 2023

This publication was produced in cooperation with the Heinrich Boell Stiftung Tbilisi Office – South Caucasus Region. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the author and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the Heinrich Boell Stiftung Tbilisi Office – South Caucasus Region and the Georgian Institute of Politics.

© Cover Photo Credit: www.globsec.org