Part of Georgian NGOs request inclusion in working format for EU integration conditions

Part of Georgian non-governmental organizations focused on democracy and the rule of law on Tuesday urged the authorities to ensure their inclusion in a working format featuring the members of the ruling Georgian Dream party, the opposition and the domestic civil sector for the implementation of nine conditions outlined by the European Union last year for opening accession talks with Tbilisi. 

In a joint statement, the NGOs expressed their disappointment over not being invited to a working meeting held by the Parliament of Georgia on Monday and stressed the responsibility of the legislative body to facilitate “genuine collaboration” with civil society and ensure the participation of “all relevant organizations” in Georgia’s European integration process.

“While the Parliament of Georgia conducted a working meeting on January 29 to discuss the implementation of the nine conditions, certain civil society organizations, although not members of the platform, have dedicated years to addressing the issues covered by these topics. Upon learning about the planned meeting, some of these organizations reached out to the Parliament Chairman, expressing their desire to contribute to the process. Despite our appeal for broader cooperation and inclusion, the Parliament declined to invite the public organizations to the meeting”, said the statement. 

The statement was signed by the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA), Democracy Research Institute (DRI), European-Georgian Institute (EGI), Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI), Open Space Caucasus, Rights Georgia, International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy, and Human Rights Centre.

The European Commission in November recommended the European Commission to grant Georgia the bloc’s candidacy with nine conditions to ensure the opening of accession talks as the next stage on the integration path, ranging from electoral reforms to the systemic approach to deoligarchization, with the latter accepting the Commission’s approach in December.