Gov’t drafting action plan to meet 9 conditions for EU accession talks – Kobakhidze

Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday claimed the country’s authorities were drafting an action plan to meet the nine conditions the country will have to meet for opening accession talks with the European Union if the European Council accepted the European Commission recommendation issued this month and granted Tbilisi the bloc’s membership candidate status in mid-December. 

 

Discussing the Government’s plans for Georgia’s EU integration along with the  representatives of the domestic civil sector at the Tbilisi conference Georgia’s Road to the EU, the lawmaker hailed the Commission’s positive recommendation and claimed the action plan would be sent to the European structure next week.

 

He noted Georgia’s receiving the bloc’s candidacy would decrease the level of political polarization, before saying the Government had done its “utmost” to meet the 12-point conditions outlined by the EU Commission last year for granting Georgia the requested status. 

 

“We have gone through a very difficult 20 months [since applying for EU membership in March 2022]. At first, we started working on the documents accompanying the application, then there was a very sad decision in June [when the EU Council rejected Georgia’s candidacy], which caused disappointment in the public and among the Government representatives. This decision was very difficult for us. It was also difficult that the decision was used to try to change the Government”, Kobakhidze said. 

 

 However, he noted following the EU Commission’s positive recommendation on November 8, it was time to “forget the past and look ahead”. 

 

 Evaluating the nine conditions which came along with the recommendation, the official spoke about their implementation.

 

“Combating disinformation is the first priority. Of course, disinformation in general is a serious problem in our country, not only in relation to the EU, but we also know that we have very liberal legislation in the field of freedom of speech in Georgia, which on the one hand is very good, but on the other hand, gives opportunities for the spread of disinformation. Our resources to combat disinformation are largely limited due to liberal laws, but everything will be done to combat specifically disinformation that is directed against the EU and its values”, Kobakhidze claimed. 

 

 He noted over the second priority about the country’s alignment with the foreign and security policy of the EU, that the Government had ensured specific challenges, and pledged it would do “its best” to increase the percentage of compliance.

 

Speaking about political polarization, the MP said the third  recommendation was mainly related to cooperation between the ruling power and opposition parties, and said the former would take actions to fulfill the condition. However, he also pointed to a “negative experience” when opposition groups “refused to work” with the ruling party last year to meet candidacy conditions.

 

In comments on ensuring free and fair elections, Kobakhidze said  the “electoral process is of special importance beyond the priorities”. 

 

 “It is in our interest to hold free and competitive elections. It is also important that these elections are observed by international missions, OSCE/ODIHR and others, and more domestic observing groups”, he said. 

 

In terms of further improvement of parliamentary oversight function, Kobakhidze said the legislation had been “significantly improved”, and that the country’s new constitution gave the body’s structures a “wide opportunity” to exercise supervision, including over security agencies. 

 

“Now the main thing is to reflect all of this in practice, and of course, when it comes to practice, the main focus should be on the opposition, because parliamentary supervision is primarily the opposition’s leverage, and they can effectively use the tools provided by the constitution and legislation today. We are ready to consult with the opposition on these topics”, Kobakhidze said. 

 

In remarks on the judiciary reform, Kobakhidze said the process was in progress, but noted it was “necessary” the bloc to make “clear explanations” what it meant in the “fundamental reform” of the Georgian High Council of Justice – a body responsible for selection and appointment of judges across Georgia and other judiciary topics. 

 

Discussing the effectiveness of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, the Special Investigation Service and the Personal Data Protection Service, and their institutional independence, the official said the authorities were waiting for the Venice Commission’s recommendations and a report.  “As for deoligarchization, the final document of the deoligarchization action plan will be prepared and the civil sector will be consulted before it is approved. I am far from the opinion that the deoligarchization action plan or any document in general, even the law that we have developed based on a personalized approach, can solve the problem of oligarchization in the country. There are oligarchs in Georgia who are involved in the processes, and I don’t think the action plan will make any changes in this situation”, he claimed. 

 

In comments on the final condition on the protection of human rights, he said the related strategy had already been approved and an action plan was being drafted.