Georgia Praised for Implementation of its Deal with EU, Topics for Concern Revealed
By Gvantsa Gabekhadze
Thursday, November 15
The Georgian government has been mostly praised by MEPs for the implementation of the Georgia-EU Association Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area deals, four years since the agreement.
However, the report drafted by MEP Andrejs Mamikins also highlighted the fields where the country should show progress.
MEPs have already discussed and reported, called it “balanced”. Unlike Moldova, Georgia deserved more praise than criticism.
Mamikins wrote that the findings of this report provide a positive image of the implementation of the Association Agreement with Georgia.
“Whilst calling on the Georgian authorities to address some remaining concerns in line with AA - notably as regards labour standards, environmental protection and discrimination against vulnerable groups and women - the report also welcomes the legislative and institutional steps taken in order to address those topics,” reads the report.
The report addresses the institutional framework in place to implement the AA, both from the Georgian and the EU side, with a focus on capacity in terms of human resources and expertise, to ensure full implementation of relevant legislation and the monitoring thereof.
“The EP reiterates its commitment to assist the Georgian authorities and notably its parliament in the reform process,” reads the report.
Member of the European Parliament Clare Moody stated during the debates about the report at the European Parliament plenary session on Tuesday, that Georgia is a “star of the region for its commitment to European values.”
MEP Heidi Hautala said that Georgia ranks higher in certain international rankings than many of the EU member states, providing the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index 2017, in which Georgia ranks 46th, while Romania ranks 59th.
Prime Minister of Georgia Mamuka Bakhtadze thanked the European Parliament for its support expressed in the report.
He said that the European Parliament expresses support for Georgia and its European future.
"I thank the European Parliament for their support for Georgia and its European future. I am proud that the government's efforts received an unprecedented positive evaluation from the European Parliament and Georgia was described as the most successful country in terms of Euro-integration.
MEPs discussed the report late on 13 November and voted it yesterday.
