The EU is concerned about the signs of preparation by Russia and its CIS allies for recognizing the sovereignty of Abkhazia. Some members of the EU insist that Brussels and all the union of 27 states support Georgia in stabilizing its political and economic situation.   

The EU Commissioner for external relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner expressed the rising concern and anxiety in relation to probable preparation of recognition of Abkhazia. “The EU has always firmly supported the territorial integrity of Georgia” she said to the reporters in the lobby of the EU Committee. According to her, Sweden and Poland have called their EU partners to maintaining the stabilization in Georgia before the May elections to the Parliament. Probably, the EU will simplify the visa system for Georgian citizens and will sign a trade agreement with Georgia.      

“We are concerned with situation about Georgia because the Russian Federation and CIS countries have decided to make some parallels to Kosovo” said Slovenian foreign minister Dimitry Rupel at the press conference dedicated to the outcomes of the EU Committee meeting where he had chaired.  

Sweden foreign minister Carl Bildt made a reservation that the perspective of recognition of Abkhazia by CIS countries being hypothetical at the moment, the main European concern is caused with lifting trade restrictions and the increased inflow of Russian investments to Abkhazia. “This can be viewed as annexation de facto and if such a thing happens, it cannot help becoming our great concern” stressed Mr. Bildt. 

High Representative for external policy and security of the EU Javier Solana said he had had a long phone discussion of the issue with Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili last weekend. “All we can do at the moment is supporting the president’s actions and making Georgia closer to the EU with the use of the existing mechanisms, and being ready to listen to what Saakashvili says” said Solana answering the question of probable reaction by Brussels.