EU spox for external affairs: regrettable Georgia didn’t wait for Venice Commission’s recommendations on court system

Peter Stano, a lead spokesperson for the external affairs of the EU, says that it is regrettable the Georgian parliament did not wait for the recommendations of the Venice Commission on the selection of the Supreme Court judges and adopted related amendments earlier this year, on September 30. 

Stano says that the recommendations, which are expected in the coming days, were requested by Georgia. 

Georgia: EU regrets that Parliament adopted legislation on selection of Supreme Court judges w/out waiting for Venice Commission opinion. It's a missed opportunity to increase public trust in the process. ???????? will asses the legislation & its implications. https://t.co/7ZXde1w0cD

— Peter Stano (@ExtSpoxEU) October 5, 2020

The European Union will assess the legislation and its implications, taking into account the upcoming Opinion of the Venice Commission, and expects that Georgia will further consider the rules of the selection process in light of the Venice Commission’s recommendations,” says Stano. 

Vice Speaker of Georgian Parliament and ruling party MP Gia Volski says that several of the recommendations by the Venice Commission on the Georgian court system have not been taken into account so far. 

Volski says, however, that the Georgian court has a high rating which is approved by international ratings. 

He says that the Georgian court reform is being carried out successfully “and the Georgian court is among the top world states, preceding many democratic countries, for court impartiality and the trust to the institution.’