Eighteenth year since the 2008 Georgia-Russia conflict: EU reiterates support for Georgia's territorial integrity
Seventeen years after the 2008 war between Russia and Georgia, the European Union (EU) has issued a statement reiterating its steadfast support for Georgia's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.
The EU's statement, issued today, also underlined its commitment to a peaceful resolution of the conflicts in Georgia and condemned Russia's violations of international law, specifically citing Moscow's military presence in the occupied territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
The EU monitoring mission (EUMM Georgia) continues to serve as the only international presence on the ground, focusing on stabilisation, normalisation, and confidence-building along the Administrative Boundary Lines (ABLs) with Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The Special Representative liaises with local communities and authorities on both sides of the ABLs to address security and humanitarian concerns.
The EU remains engaged in the Geneva International Discussions (GID), a multilateral forum addressing the consequences of the 2008 war. The GID is co-chaired by the EU, the United Nations, and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), and involves representatives from Georgia, Russia, the United States, and the de facto authorities in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
The EU called on all parties involved to 'engage constructively' to ensure the full implementation of the 2008 agreements, as the situation in the South Caucasus remains frozen, with ongoing tensions and periodic incidents along the ABLs.
In a significant development, the EU summit has halted Georgia's EU accession over a 'Russian' law. This decision underscores the EU's continued engagement in the region and its commitment to ongoing stabilisation and conflict resolution efforts.
The statement drew attention to the human rights situation in the conflict-affected areas and called for accountability for documented human rights violations in the occupied regions. The EU reaffirmed its recognition of the authorities in Abkhazia and South Ossetia as de facto authorities, but not as legitimate governments.
The 2008 war resulted in hundreds of casualties and the displacement of tens of thousands, and Russia formally recognised Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states, a move rejected by Georgia and most of the international community.
The EU's Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia is actively working to reduce tensions, facilitate dialogue, and support peacebuilding initiatives. The EU remains committed to a peaceful resolution of the conflicts in Georgia and to the territorial integrity of the country within its internationally recognised borders.
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