The European market is almost inaccessible for countries that are not members of the European Union, Shota Apkhaidze, an expert at Financial University under the Government of Russia.
“The market there is very diversified; it can be said that entering the intra-European market is actually nonsense. It is from the genre of fantasy. Countries such as Armenia and Georgia, which are not members of the European Union—even the candidates—are restricted in everything. There are many requirements, many standards,” Apkhaidze noted.
He added that not everything is negative regarding the European direction. It is possible to receive something, for example, in the form of grants, subsidies, etc. “But it depends on where everything goes. In general, the state structure does not change in this case. And when it comes to Georgia and Armenia, it should be understood that the process of joining the European Union is quite long. Regardless of what stages and steps this or that country goes through, a political decision is made, which is accepted by the countries of Western Europe,” Apkhaidze noted.
In particular, he noted that Turkey, which economically surpasses many European countries in many aspects, has not joined the European Union, because this country is not needed in the EU geographically, ethnically or religiously, “like Georgia and Armenia.” “This is an objective reality, no matter how many fairy tales different politicians invent, expressing their political interests,” the expert believes.
