TY - JOUR
T1 - Integration Maturity of Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine
T2 - Has DCFTA Helped Prepare Them for the EU Accession Process?
AU - Nielsen, Kristian L.
AU - Šiljak, Dženita
N1 - Epub ahead of print. Published online: May 15, 2024.
PY - 2024/5/15
Y1 - 2024/5/15
N2 - The aim of this article is to research the economic preparedness for EU integration—or “integration maturity”—of Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine, the three countries that have signed Association Agreements with the European Union. A major part of these is the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreements, which offer significant access to the EU single market and provide a pathway to deeper economic integration. The article analyzes the three countries’ economic integration maturity through five key components: macroeconomic stability, functioning market economy, competitiveness, access to foreign finance, and, lastly, convergence with the European Union. The analysis shows that although all three countries have made significant progress since signing the agreements, they have still not progressed to the point where they will be competitive and capable of maximizing the economic benefits from deeper integration. However, the current framework provides a beneficial platform from which to conduct further reform, and is therefore a good interim solution for the short to medium term. This finding is particularly relevant in the context of Russia’s war on Ukraine, the significant rebuilding efforts that await at the end of the war, and the expressed desire of all three countries for full EU membership.
AB - The aim of this article is to research the economic preparedness for EU integration—or “integration maturity”—of Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine, the three countries that have signed Association Agreements with the European Union. A major part of these is the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreements, which offer significant access to the EU single market and provide a pathway to deeper economic integration. The article analyzes the three countries’ economic integration maturity through five key components: macroeconomic stability, functioning market economy, competitiveness, access to foreign finance, and, lastly, convergence with the European Union. The analysis shows that although all three countries have made significant progress since signing the agreements, they have still not progressed to the point where they will be competitive and capable of maximizing the economic benefits from deeper integration. However, the current framework provides a beneficial platform from which to conduct further reform, and is therefore a good interim solution for the short to medium term. This finding is particularly relevant in the context of Russia’s war on Ukraine, the significant rebuilding efforts that await at the end of the war, and the expressed desire of all three countries for full EU membership.
KW - Integration maturity
KW - Eastern partnership
KW - DCFTA
KW - EU
KW - Accession process
KW - Integration maturity
KW - Eastern partnership
KW - DCFTA
KW - EU
KW - Accession process
U2 - 10.1177/08883254231215497
DO - 10.1177/08883254231215497
M3 - Journal article
SN - 1533-8371
JO - East European Politics and Societies: and Cultures
JF - East European Politics and Societies: and Cultures
ER -