Unlike Ukraine and Moldova, Georgia missed out on receiving EU candidate status last June and were instead granted the European “perspective” and given a list of 12 priorities to develop and implement in terms of domestic reforms.

Internally, Georgia’s ruling party has faced intense pressure from opposition parties to follow Ukraine’s lead, seen as a window of opportunity to advance its own EU aspirations, a goal enshrined in the country’s constitution.

However, the EU-aspirant nation has been gripped by a political crisis over the past years, with concerns in the West over Georgia’s backsliding on commitments to democracy.

With an oral assessment of progress by the EU executive expected by June, EURACTIV looks at Georgia’s prospect of receiving EU candidate status in the near future.