Two hundred EU observers from 22 member states are set to monitor the pull-back of Russian forces from buffer zones near South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Russia has agreed to pull out all its remaining peacekeepers from the zones by October 10.
The EU mission has a mandate to remain in Georgia through September 20, 2009.
The EU observer mission is part of a French-brokered ceasefire agreed on after a five-day war between Russia and Georgia over South Ossetia in August that saw Russian forces move deep into Georgia territory. The Russian military operation came in response to Georgia's August 8 attack on South Ossetia, where the majority of residents have Russian citizenship.
Russia recognized both South Ossetia and Abkhazia, another breakaway Georgian republic, as independent states on August 26. So far, only Nicaragua has followed suit.
Russia's response to the Georgian attack was criticized as disproportionate by a number of Western powers. Its recognition of the breakaway republics was also criticized.
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said on Tuesday that he expected the situation in his country to stabilize with the withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers. EU foreign policy chief Solana, who met with Saakashvili, said: "The objective of this mission is to allow Russian forces to withdraw."
