EU assists Georgia with €60 million to improve judiciary, human rights

European Union (EU) gives Georgia a solid financial assistance to improve the country’s judiciary system and develop human rights.

Today, Georgia’s State Minister on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration David Bakradze and Director for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations of the European Commission Gerhard Schumann-Hitzler signed two financing agreements with a total budget of €60 million (156 million GEL) at the Government Administration today.

The Agreements foresaw €50 million (130 million GEL) in support of the judiciary sector and €10 million (26 million GEL) in support of the Human Rights programs within the EU initiative "More for more".

The given EU assistance implied support for implementing priority reforms under the Association Agreement (AA) and the Agenda of the AA.

Namely, €50 million assistance would be directed towards improving the Justice administration system, consolidating the rule of law, strengthening human rights protection in line with international and European standards, sharing best European experience, supporting the independence of judges and increasing capacity of court staff.

"With the support of respective government agencies, the program would promote establishing effective system of governance, promotion of Human Rights, the Rule of Law and respect to fundamental freedoms,” David Bakradze noted.

Georgian State Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration David Bakradze and Director for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations of the European Commission Gerhard Schumann-Hitzler signing the agreements today. Photo by State Ministry

€30 million of the €50 million assistance would be implemented within the framework of the EU budgetary Assistance. Georgia will receive the funding in annual tranches during four years. The remaining €20 million would address the implementation of the projects in the above-mentioned directions.

Through this remaining €10 million, the EU would support the implementation of the Georgian National Human Rights Strategy and Action Plan.

It envisaged supporting key areas of the AA, the Association Agenda, as well as the Visa Liberalisation Action Plan (VLAP), particularly the parts dealing with fundamental rights.

These areas include the rights of minorities and vulnerable groups, internal and external oversight of law enforcement, protection of privacy, labour rights, freedom of expression and information.

After the signing of the agreements, David Bakradze and Gerhard Schumann-Hitzler held a bilateral meeting.

The meeting was also attended by the head of the EU Delegation to Georgia Janos Herman and Georgian Deputy Justice Minister Aleksandre Baramidze.

The sides discussed Association Agenda and the issues regarding the Visa Liberalisation Action Plan (VLAP). Georgian and EU officials talked about the possibilities of EU support of the agricultural sector, as well the issues of implementing infrastructural and energy projects.