Opposition MP: implementation EU membership conditions should “go beyond party interests”

Khatuna Samnidze, an opposition MP and the Chair of the Republican Party, on Thursday said the implementation of the 12-point conditions established by the European Union for granting Georgia the membership candidate status should “go beyond party interests”. 

Samnidze emphasised her party would participate in consultations with Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili, who is set to meet Parliamentary groups on Thursday within the framework of the implementation plan and will speak to colleagues about the issue of reducing political polarisation in the country.

Samnidze said she had planned a meeting with the Parliament Speaker with her “own agenda and views”, local media said.

Irakli Kadagishvili, the Chairman of the Rules and Procedural Issues Committee of the Parliament, on Thursday called on the domestic opposition, non-governmental organisations and experts to get involved in the work process on fulfilling the 12-point conditions established by the EU.

The ruling Georgian Dream party on Friday presented its strategy for fulfilling the EU conditions. The strategy involves a working group - featuring representatives of all Parliamentary parties and the civil sector - that will provide a “comprehensive assessment” of the implementation of the legislative body’s regulations in the field of Parliamentary supervision, and prepare a legislative initiative to correct identified shortcomings.