The Parliament hosts the 7th EU-Georgia Parliamentary Association Committee sitting with participation of Delegations of the Georgian and European Parliaments.

The sitting is presided by the Co-Chairs of the PAC, Tamar Khulordava and Sajjad Karim.

“We cherish the far-reaching plans in terms of EU integration with the key role played by our relations with EP. In this regards, we shall underline the role of the EU-Georgia Parliamentary Association Committee in capacity of the standing body. It oversees the EUAA implementation, hears the reports, makes assessments which allow us being better focused in our activities and advance Georgia-EU relations”, - T. Khulordava noted.

Foreign political priorities of Georgia constitute EU integration. “And this goal we chase is guaranteed under the Constitution. The Constitutional liability of the institutions is to do their best within their competences to facilitate to EU integration of Georgia. We have a long way ahead and we assume the greatest responsibility”, - she stated.

She thanked MEPs for active support to European perspective of Georgia and expressed her gratitude to EP for adoption of the Resolution on Occupied Territories of Georgia at the 10th anniversary of Russian attack to Georgia.

“It was the act of strongest support. The political spectrum, the greatest part of EP voted for the resolution, which evidences intact support of EU to territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia”.

She spoke about Georgia-EU relations progress and the role of the Parliament in EUAA implementation. She emphasized respective legislative initiatives and changes.

"EUAA aims at enhancement of Georgia-EU relations, which shall be taken to the brand new level. Georgia undertakes successful reforming in judicial system and in curbing corruption. In this regards, Georgia is the EaP leader. We fully share and hail the peacekeeping initiative of Georgian Government regarding peaceful resolution of the conflict. We have many times reiterated that Georgia undertakes fully pragmatic and constrictive policy”, - S. Karim noted in his welcome speech.

The Director of EU Representative Office to Georgia, Carl Hartzell, spoke about EU-Georgia ongoing relations. “I, being the new EU Ambassador, was highly enthusiastic about visiting Georgia to at maximal extent enhance EU-Georgia relations. Georgia is the major partner for EU in the region. Our relations have never been so successful. We further render economic support to Georgia. We support ongoing reforming in Georgia, and the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country. We also support peaceful resolution of the conflicts and non-recognition policy in regards with South Ossetia and Abkhazia”.

The Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister and the Deputy Internal Affairs Ministers spoke about response of Georgian Government to the challenges on visa free travel.

“Visa liberalization is not the technical mean of visa free travel to EU solely, it is the strong political support of EU to Georgia”, - Vakhtang Makharoblishvili noted.

The Government is very careful about all the challenges that may emerge from visa liberalization. “Visa liberalization and EUAA constitute the greatest achievements for Georgia on EU integration path. We are highly careful about all the problems that may emerge upon enactment of visa free travel and do our best to eliminate the problems. We actively cooperate with Interpol and want to cooperate with European police. We are glad to join European police”, – Nino Javakhadze stated.

The First Vice Speaker, Tamar Chugoshvili spoke about democracy and human rights protection, progress and challenges, as well as gender equality and Gender Equality Council activity. She emphasized the draft Rules of Procedure under consideration. “We have developed the draft allowing MPs due realizing Parliamentary oversight. This document supported by partner organizations, enhances authorities of MPs and the Committees”.

She touched upon the Constitutional changes. “It was the step directed to democratic processes”. She emphasized gender equality, GEC activity and achievements, as well as granting economic and political authority to women by the Parliament. Speaking about OGP, she noted that Georgia is one of the leaders amongst Open and Transparent Partnership member states.

The Deputy Internal Affairs Minister, Natia Mezvrishvili emphasized the activities of the Human Rights Department – elimination of domestic violence, violence against women, violence on discrimination and hatred basis, crimes by the juveniles etc.

The Deputy Minister of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia, Tamila Barkalaia spoke about labor safety and labor rights. She introduced the new law on Labor Safety.

The Head of the Public Service Bureau, Ekaterine Kardava spoke about public reform and support of the Bureau to anti-corruption policy. The attendees emphasized the reforms in regards with Ministry of Environment and Agriculture within Deep and Comprehensive Trade with EU.

Georgian executive and legislative authorities answered the questions by PAC members.

The sitting will be accomplished tomorrow by voting for the joint statement and the recommendations, followed with the joint press-conference by Co-Chairs.