“The objective of our Government and especially of the next Term of the Parliament will envisage maximally effective relations with the civil sector, trust-building and provision of the optimal conditions for their feedback and positions and I personally envision the Open Governance Permanent Parliamentary Council in this dimension”, - the Speaker stated at the sitting of the Open Governance Permanent Parliamentary Council.

The Council discussed the amendments to the Provisions. As the Speaker noted, the updated Provisions will facilitate engagement of Independent MPs and the opposition to the activity of the Council.

“Inasmuch as the configuration has been modified in the Parliament in the regard that the independent groups and the opposition members have been re-rotated, we have received the applications from other subjects for engagement in the Council activity which was not envisaged under the current Provisions, so today we discuss the amendments”.

The updated composition of the Council and the activity will be presided by the Vice-Speaker, Kakha Kuchava.

The Speaker dwelt on the plans for 2020 and the agenda and stated that due to the upcoming elections, 2020 is not going to be the standard year. “I will strive to, in the first half of the year, cover the oversight and legislative activity plan now under development”.

The main objective of the Parliament still envisages the legislative reform including various components and based on the OSCE recommendations. “The Parliament shall direct its efforts to the oversight activity and in this direction”.

The Speaker underlined importance of the Council and expressed commitment for cooperation with the NGOs to facilitate trust-building and constructive cooperation. He nominated the new Chair of the Council, Kakha Kuchava.

According to K. Kuchava, the Council shall direct its attention to the activity launched by the preceding Term of the Parliament. “I would like to thank the former Chair of the Council, Irina Pruidze for her activity. She has achieved impressive outcomes, has held various events including hosting the OGP Global Summit. The Council Member, Giorgi Kldiashvili was elected as the OGP Administrative Committee member as the representative of the civil society which is the greatest achievement for Georgia”.

The Council will keep striving to ensure compliance of the Council Provisions with the new Rules of Procedure and to update the composition allowing every MP being actively engaged in its activity.

In addition, the Council determined the 2020-2021 action plan development schedule and agreed to hold the consultations with the civil society.

K. Kuchava introduced the report on implementation of the action plan for 2018-2019.