CHALLENGES OF GEORGA�S ENERGY POLICY IN THE PROCESS OF INTEGRATION WITHIN THE EUROPEAN UNION

Georgia's positioning in the context of the European Union's foreign energy policy has become the subject of discussion in the context of the threats coming from the current Russia-Ukraine war. At the same time, determining the effectiveness of the country's energy policy is related to the seventh Sustainable Development Goal - affordable and safe energy. In 2016, Georgia signed the protocol of joining the Energy Community, which determines the conditions for the introduction of EU energy legislation in Georgia in order to deepen Georgia's energy integration with the EU. The purpose of the study is to offer recommendations for the formation of an effective energy policy of Georgia, taking into account the demand for integration with the EU. In terms of theoretical approach, the work is based on the views of the followers of the Neorealist School of international relations, where the issue of energy security dominates. In the research process, Georgian energy policy documents, projects, reports of national and international organizations on energy policy, as well as general directives of the European Union were studied, as they determine energy policy priorities, such as sustainable energy development, energy efficiency improvement and use of renewable energy sources. The research is based on using the political-economic analysis method. The research was conducted also using the method of bibliographic research and comparative analysis: the problems of Georgia's energy policy, their causes and consequences are analyzed; Recommendations for an effective policy of energy integration between Georgia and the European Union have been developed. The use of research foundlings will help to define differentiated tasks and activities for the development of energy development policy in Georgia.