EU Allocates ˆ 48.1 Million for Georgia Reforms

(BRUSSELS)--In acknowledgement of commonly agreed reform progress in 2017 in several sectors, the European Union has allocated GEL 140 million (ˆ 48.1 million) of non-reimbursable aid to Georgia.

In particular, the EU has assisted Georgia for implemented reforms in trade and business development, vocational education and employment, agriculture, and integration of internally displaced people (IDPs).

EU delegation to Georgia reports that the payments were also made for Georgia's justice sector, public administration, public finance management and regional development policy. These funds are provided within the framework of EU budget support programs ongoing with the government.

On the basis of independent reports, the EU has positively assessed the achieved progress in the aforementioned fields.

The EU noted that Georgia has made progress in the areas of trade and private sector development, in line with the agreed roadmap. This included the timely adoption of a number of national legislative acts aimed at enabling a favorable business environment, including on food safety, technical barriers to trade, and market surveillance.

Moreover, in a statement, the EU delegation to Georgia noted that Georgia achieved notable results in developing a labor market information system and introduction of a new service model for the employment support services.

“The Georgian government developed, adopted and started implementation of a strategic framework for rural development in line with EU best practices,” the statement reads.

It also points out that overall, Georgia made good progress in management and implementation of the Livelihood Action Plan, adding the government provided better support to the employability, requalification, education and training of internally displaced people.

As for the justice sector, the EU noted that despite making progress, there remains the need of an independent investigative mechanism to investigate wrong-doing of law enforcement officials, adding the government did not provide sufficient evidence that all cases of alleged ill-treatment were investigated efficiently.

Financial support is an instrument for EU cooperation which involves direct financial transfers to the state budget of the partner country. Funds are transferred annually, and only when commonly agreed results are met.