Parliamentary group prepares judicial reform plan for implementation of EU candidate status conditions
The document reviews the goals and objectives of the judicial reform, as well as a general analysis of the current state of the common courts system. The paper also focuses on the existing “institutional challenges” and future reform issues of the system of general courts of Georgia. Photo: Parliament of Georgia
Tweet 
Share
The working group of the Georgian parliament engaged in implementing the European Union conditions for granting the country the membership candidate status on Monday prepared an action plan for the reform of the judiciary of the country, the press service of the Georgian parliament said.
The document reviews the goals and objectives of the judicial reform, as well as a general analysis of the current state of the common courts system. The paper also focuses on the existing “institutional challenges” and future reform issues of the system of general courts of Georgia.
The lawmakers stressed the necessity of the continued work on further development of Georgian justice system, noting “there are still challenges, the solution of which would significantly contribute to the improvement of the quality of justice on the way to Georgia's accession to the European Union”.
The action plan notes that the goal of any future legislative changes in the field of justice should ensure avoidance of obstruction of justice and delays to the realisation of the right to a fair trial, while also further improving the judicial system to ensure “smooth” protection of interests of Georgian citizens and protect the court from “reputational damage”.
On June 24, the European Council granted the membership candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova, and said it would be ready to grant the same status to Georgia once the outstanding priorities outlined by the European Commission would be addressed by the Georgian government.
Pawel Herczynski, the European Union ambassador to Georgia, on Friday said the “doors to the European Union” were “open” for Georgia.
Thomas Mühlmann, the ambassador of Austria to Georgia, on Thursday said he was confident that if both the government and the opposition in Georgia worked together for fulfilling conditions for European Union membership candidate status, the objective would be successfully accomplished.
Peter Fischer, the German ambassador to Georgia, on Wednesday said the process of the country implementing the European Union conditions for receiving the membership candidate status should be “inclusive, democratic and pluralistic”.
Peter Fischer, the newly appointed ambassador of Germany to Georgia, on Wednesday said the European perspective - granted to Georgia by the European Council in June in response to the country’s application for European Union membership - was a “great opportunity” for Georgia, with the path to eventual membership candidate status being “very clear”.
Mamuka Mdinaradze, the executive secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Monday said a “radical part” of the domestic opposition was “sabotaging” the implementation of European Union conditions for granting the country the membership candidate status.