Georgia strengthens efforts towards decentralisation

Action is being taken to support decentralisation in Georgia and promote a more equal distribution of power.

This will allow more powerful and active local authorities to produce a range of solutions to social issues without having this agreeing and approved by the central Government. 

To promote Georgia’s decentralisation efforts, Georgia’s Minister for Regional Development and Infrastructure Nodar Javakhishvili met a top Council of Europe (CoE) official today to sign a guideline document that would assist Georgia through this process.

The document, titled For Local and Regional Democracy in Georgia, was penned by the Georgian Minister and by the President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe (CoE), Jean-Claude Frecon.

By signing the document, both sides agreed to continue cooperation and political dialogue to ensure stronger self-governments in Georgia, to bring the country into line with the best European achievements in this regard. 

Specifically, the guideline included the following steps: 

• Supporting Georgia to take genuine steps to ensure the financial independence of local authorities;
• Putting relevant amendments in the Georgian Constitution with regard to regional governance;
• Holding consultations between the regional and central governments to provide better outcomes for regional development; and
• Permanent monitoring of decentralisation processes. 

Georgia has already taken important steps to carry out the Self-Governments’ Reform. A new Self-Government Code has been developed and confirmed, various amendments have been introduced in the legislation to specify administrative and territorial arrangements in the regions, and a range of activities have been put in place to support the financial independence of local governments. 

Georgia successfully implemented the CoE Congress of Local and Regional Authorities 2013 recommendations, which saw Georgia receive international praise.