With the start of negotiations with Turkey, the European Union has signalled that it will take responsibility for the geopolitical shape of its neighbourhood. Now it needs to devote the same degree of attention to the next wave of countries beyond its borders. Turkey's neighbour Georgia dramatically declared its intention of joining the West in the Rose revolution of 2003. Its role as an energy transit country, its 'frozen conflicts' and its proximity to Russia give it real importance to Europe's economic and security future. But so far the EU's response to this fragile but rapidly modernising country has been underwhelming. In advance of the Georgian foreign minister's first visit to London, Mark Leonard and Charles Grant set out an action plan for deploying Europe's 'transformative power' in a vital part of the European neighbourhood.
