Today, Georgian Parliament hosts the 5th PAC sitting with participation of Georgian MPs and MEPs. The Co-Chairs,Tamar Khulordava and Sajjad Karim opened the sitting.

“It is the greatest honor to host the PAC 5th sitting in Georgia. It is the platform we attach the greatest importance to as it is the cooperation agency under Association Agreement between Georgian Parliament and European Parliament. According our achievements, it is the most significant agency and the opportunity to further enhance our relations and do more for approximation to EU”, - T. Khulordava stated.

“Georgia-EU relations have been through under significant breakthrough recently. We have visa liberalization agreement enacted, which is a very important political outcome for Georgia tangible for every Georgian citizen”.

She recalled the post-4th sitting progress by Georgia and noted that accession to European Energy Union is one of such achievements. “We keep to the agenda and value support our partners in our aspiration to the goals we outlined”, - she stated.

However, despite achieved goals, we still have a long way ahead and Georgian Parliament is involved in this process. She emphasized upcoming EaP November Summit. “It is one of the most important platforms. We cherish the ambition to be dignified amongst EaP states. Georgia is recognized as a leader, which gives us basis for more ambitions”.

The EP develops the report for the EaP Summit. “We anticipate and aspire that EP will be direct without abstaining from mentioning our common future. It is our demand, desire and the factor constantly reflected in all the statements and resolutions adopted by the Parliamentary Committees”.

She underlined necessity of differentiated approach to Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova. “We would like EU to have differentiated attitude to the associate states. We cherish different ambition, capacity and the desires for fulfillment of our common objectives”, - she stated.

“I am glad to see your commitment to have Georgia’s European way successful. Significant steps have been made after the 4th PAC sitting. Georgia-EU relations have been enhanced and Georgia was granted the visa free travel to EU. Moreover, Georgia accessed to Energy Society Agreement. as to the EUAA agenda, Georgia has advanced”, - S. Karim stated.

He spoke about reforming in Georgia. “You undertake the reforms in compliance with EUAA. It concerns democratization, rule of law, judicial system, combating corruption and public administration”. He noted that Georgian Parliament shall consider the Venice Commission opinions and achieve the consensus with the political forces and civil society.

S. Karim emphasized EaP November Summit and noted that Georgia is the leader amongst EaP member states. “The Summit scheduled in Brussels shall be an important message for Georgia to further approximate to EU”.

The PAC members heard the representatives of Georgian executive authorities and of EU. The Deputy Foreign Minister, Vakhtang Makharoblishvili and the EU Ambassador to Georgia, Janos Herman delivered the welcome speeches.

“European Parliament, in its resolutions is crystal clear manifesting its attitude to the associate members. We value it and hope for continuation of this political course”, - V. Makharoblishvili stated.

He underlined the reforming and emphasized visa free travel and the activities for public awareness. He underlined necessity of the reforms full application of which is possible under EUAA. He mentioned the role of EU in conflict resolution in Georgia. “I would like to thank EU for recognition of Georgian borders and support Georgia against Russian policy”.

J. Herman estimated that Georgia-EU relations have never been so close. “Georgia-EU relations are strong and close as never deriving from the stable and resolute responsibility and desire of the both parties. Obligations require reforming and undertakings reflecting EU values. These obligations require of EU support of the process through the instruments available”.

The delegates considered EUAA and DCFTA implementation, democratic and Constitutional reforms in Georgia, current state in judicial system and open governance principles in Georgian Parliament.

The Speaker, Irakli Kobakhidze spoke about the Constitutional reform. “We strived for compliance of the Constitution with checks and balances and retention principles and the State Constitutional Commission and the Parliament have succeeded in achievement of this goal”. According to him, the SCC actively cooperated with the Venice Commission. “We have made a unique statement – Parliament of Georgia would never adopt any norm negatively estimated by the Venice Commission. Naturally, we adhere to this promise and none of the norms will be adopted rejected by the Venice Commission”.

As the Speaker stated, the SCC has developed a high quality product, though the opposition left the Commission. He elucidated that the criticism was based on two reasons – Parliamentary electoral system and the Presidential elections. “This change was positively estimated by the Venice Commission. The changes aim at compliance of the rule of election of the President with the general functions and competences of the President”.

The Speaker underlined the context of the draft and noted that one of the important changes concern the strong Parliament. “We have enhanced the role of the Parliament in this system, we improved accountability and responsibility procedures of the Government, including the vote of non-confidence, as well as accountability of the Prime Minister to the Parliament. We have the changes strengthening the Parliament and ensuring respective checks and balances and retention system”.

He named the proportional electoral system as one of the most dramatic changes. According to him, the proportional system shall apply after the Parliamentary elections of 2020. Venice Commission, he stated, gives the positive estimation to the document. The SCC shared 20 out of 23 recommendations by the Venice Commission. Remaining 3 are of technical nature. “We adopt the European type Constitution with excellent Parliamentary system and proportional electoral system. We have already received the Venice Commission opinion providing 23 recommendations 20 of which were shared. As to the remaining 3, they are of technical nature. We believe that non-consideration of these issues will not affect the final estimation of the document”.

The First Vice Speaker, Tamar Chugoshvili spoke about open governance principles, higher legislative quality and better oversight functions. “Our future plan envisages further strengthening of the Parliament, increase of quality of legislative process and better implementation of our oversight functions”, - she stated.

She spoke about the judicial and human rights reforms, including personal data protection standards, labor rights, freedom of media etc. According to all international and reliable indices, Georgia is amongst a few countries worldwide maintaining the positive trend in human rights term.

She spoke about enhancement of Public Defender Office. “The reporting of the Ombudsman is of open format and we always respond to his criticism with our resolutions. It is innovative for Georgia as criticism by the Ombudsman used to remain unsolved. It likely is one of the most important achievements of the Parliament in terms of oversight over the executive authority and responding to human rights violations”.

Georgia is amongst 9 world countries with improved independence of media. Besides, Georgia has established the PDP Inspector Office in 2013.

Speaking about the judicial reform, T. Chugoshvili stated that Georgia has advanced with 32 positions according to the rule of law index. “We have conducted three waves of reforming. We have depoliticized the High Council of Justice and increased transparency of judicial system. We still have much to do but it was the longest and hardest reform and progress of Georgia is evident in local and international monitoring”.

She spoke about the first national human rights strategy of 2014. According to international valuators, Georgia improved freedom of expression and suffrage quality. She noted that the torture and inhuman treatment issues, being the unsolved problem years ago are no drastically improved and the state response to such facts is the most acute. T. Chugoshvili spoke about anti-discriminative law of 2014 and thanked the EU representatives for assistance. “I would like to thank EU for assistance. We do our best to make Georgia the best partner for you. We remain loyal to our tasks and objectives”.

The State Minister for Reconciliation, Ketevan Tsikheleashvili spoke about the current state on occupied territories and peacekeeping policy of Georgian Government.

The PDP Inspector, Tamar Kaldani spoke about personal data protection progress and underlined the legislative changes for improvement of labor rights. The Committee discussed EaP November Summit expectations.

“We cherish certain expectations from the Summit and would like EP to be active in this process. EaP policy needs to be revised to maintain relevancy for all participant states. We ask for more differentiation and establishment of the principle more for more, which in its turn envisages to elements for Georgia – recognition on the political level of the fact that associate partners: Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova have EU membership perspectives; and that financial instruments shall serve for EU in assistance of fulfillment of our ambitious plans”, - Tamar Khulordava stated.

The PAC siting will continue tomorrow. In the end, the Committee will adopt the statement and the recommendation.

The PAC convenes twice per year chaired by the Co-Chairs – Chair of the EU Integration Committee, Tamar Khulordava and the MEP, Sajjad Karim (UK/Conservatives).