Maintaining calm at the crossroads of conflict in the South Caucus region

What does European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM) do?

The European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM) is an unarmed civilian monitoring mission. Our first monitors arrived in Georgia on 1 October 2008, just a few weeks after the August war between Russia and Georgia. They came as part of the EU-brokered Six-Point Agreement that brought an end to the fighting. Our main objective is to contribute to stability in Georgia, and to support conflict-affected communities in returning to safer, more normal lives. We achieve this through a combination of monitoring, reporting, and confidence-building activities.

Our teams patrol the Administrative Boundary Lines (ABLs) with South Ossetia and Abkhazia around the clock, observing both the security and humanitarian situation. Their continuous presence reassures local communities and contributes directly to stability and safety in the region.

European Union

All observations made by our monitors are compiled into reports, which are shared with the European Union and its Member States. These reports offer a clear and impartial picture of developments on the ground, supporting policymakers in making informed decisions.

Finally, EUMM plays a key role in preventing tensions from escalating. Through several confidence-building mechanisms, we facilitate communication between the parties to the conflict. This dialogue allows us to help prevent and defuse tensions, while finding practical solutions for the conflict-affected communities living along the Administrative Boundary Lines.

What is the impact the EUMM mission has on the ground?

The impact of the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia can be seen in the greater stability and security along the Administrative Boundary Lines (ABLs). When the Mission was first deployed in 2008, the situation was volatile, and the risk of renewed hostilities was very real. In those early days, our monitors were working in a tense, unpredictable environment. Today, the situation is much more stable and secure. That relative calm didn’t happen by chance. It is the result of consistent, long-term EU engagement and our daily presence on the ground.

At the heart of our work are the people living along the ABLs. Even though the war ended more than 17 years ago, its effects are still felt in daily life. Freedom of movement is limited, affecting people’s ability to visit family, access religious sites, and earn a living. Through our patrols and engagement, we help improve their situation and provide reassurance. Local communities often tell us that seeing our presence makes them feel safer. That sense of security is essential. It allows people to focus on their families, their livelihoods, and their future, rather than living in constant uncertainty.

 “[The EUMM] allows people to focus on their families, their livelihoods, and their future, rather than living in constant uncertainty.”

How does EUMM contribute to European security interests?

What happens in Georgia doesn’t stay in Georgia. Stability in the EU’s neighbourhood directly affects stability in Europe. The South Caucasus sits at the crossroads between Europe, the Black Sea, and the Middle East. A region that has seen its share of tensions and competing interests. By helping to maintain calm and prevent a return to hostilities here, EUMM contributes to a more stable and predictable European neighbourhood.

European Union

Our Mission is a concrete example of the EU’s ability to act as a security provider through civilian means. We show that you don’t always need weapons to keep peace. You need presence, dialogue, and trust. By being on the ground 24/7, our monitors act as the EU’s eyes and ears, providing reliable information to Brussels and EU capitals. This situational awareness helps the EU shape informed policies and react quickly when tensions rise.

 [The EUMM] shows that the EU can be an anchor of peace and stability. Not only for its members, but also for its neighbours.

Beyond that, EUMM demonstrates what the EU stands for: conflict prevention, diplomacy, and human security. Every day, our patrols remind people along the Administrative Boundary Lines that the EU cares about their safety and well-being. And that message resonates far beyond Georgia’s borders. It shows that the EU can be an anchor of peace and stability. Not only for its members, but also for its neighbours.