Ruling party head: judicial reform package could be approved before end of year

The timeframe of the reform for the judiciary system of Georgia has been agreed, with both development of the package and its approval possible before the end of 2022, Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, said on Monday.

Speaking about measures to be taken as part of the country’s process of EU membership application, Kobakhidze said the reform was an” integral part” of the 2014 European Union-Georgia Association Agreement.

We are interested in getting this process [judicial reform] going as quickly as possible. Everything will be done to quickly develop the evaluation document [EU membership questionnaire] and a bill based on that. We think that by the end of the year, if not earlier, it is possible not only to develop the reform package, but also to approve it. Specific timeframe for the judicial reform has been agreed,” the GD official said.

Oliver Varhelyi, the European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, handed over the EU membership questionnaire to Georgia’s Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Monday.

The questionnaire for Georgia contains 369 questions, significantly less than ones received by other EU partners. Previously, forms including about 2,000-5,000 questions were received by countries aspiring to join the Union.

After the Georgian authorities respond to the questionnaire, the European Commission will prepare its report and forward it to the European Council. Georgia has 1.5 months to complete the questionnaire.