Georgia-EU relations, environmental protection, climate change discussed at Georgia's Road to EU Conference
The conference focused on various key topics including environmental protection, agriculture, economic integration, and labour rights. Photo: Parliament of Georgia
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The Georgian capital city of Tbilisi on Thursday hosted the Conference on Georgia’s Road to the European Union, organised by the Parliament of Georgia and the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum’s Georgian National Platform.
The conference focused on various key topics including environmental protection, agriculture, economic integration, and labour rights.
The Speaker of the Parliament Shalva Papuashvili addressing the Conference devoted attention to the relationship between Georgia and the European Union and said it “extends far beyond the 12 recommendations [set out by the bloc to grant the country the EU candidate status]”.
Over the past year and a half, Georgian politics have been predominantly preoccupied with the issue of the 12 recommendations [...] These recommendations are crucial because they present a window of opportunity for Georgia to draw closer to the European Union. [...] However, [...] Georgia's connection with the EU is defined by the Association Agreement and the broader agenda that outlines what it truly means to be a part of the European family”, Papuashvili said.
Maia Bitadze, the Chair of the Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Committee of the Georgian Parliament, also delivered a speech at the Conference in which she emphasised the importance of environmental protection and adaptation to climate change, saying “the settlement of these issues begins with the regulation of legal acts”.
She said Georgia “has started the harmonisation” of about 200 legal acts, directives and regulations since 2014.
It can be said that [this process] was very successful in terms of adoption of legal acts, we have introduced about 65 percent of legal acts into the national legislation”, Bitadze said.
The Conference has been held for the second time with the first meeting held on July 25 discussing the issues related to justice and electoral reform.
Iraikli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Thursday claimed the country would be “ready” to obtain the European Union membership candidate status by the end of this year.
Revaz Javelidze, the Head of the Georgian Government Administration, on Thursday said the action plan for deoligarchisation adopted by Georgia's European Union Integration Commission earlier today, was developed based on recommendations of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe and “our European partners”.
Georgia’s European Union Integration Commission on Thursday adopted an action plan for deoligarchisation to address one of the conditions for the bloc granting the country its membership candidate status.
Helmut Scholz, a member of the European Parliament, on Wednesday highlighted “very big chances” of European Union integration for Georgia, noting the country was developing “in the right direction” and pointing to “mutual obligations” over the bloc’s potential enlargement.
Members of the Green Climate Fund delegation, the largest fund assisting developing countries to meet their climate change goals, visited Georgia to review the protection of forests in the country, as part of the ECO.Georgia project, the Environment Ministry said on Sunday.
Georgia's Environmental Protection Ministry on Saturday issued a statement, rejecting misinformation over selling the forest in western Georgia’s Racha region, and noting there was “no reason to hold protests” over the matter after citizens held a rally outside the Ministry yesterday.
Georgian Agriculture Minister Otar Shamugia on Monday revealed studies were ongoing for creating a new protected natural area in western Georgia’s Racha region, following a citizen protest on Saturday over an alleged sale of a forest area in the locality.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili is set to address world leaders at the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference hosted in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, the Government press office said on Thursday.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday joined world leaders at the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference hosted in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
Ilia Darchiashvili, the Georgian Foreign Minister, on Friday said Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili’s address to the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai would be focused on “pertinent issues” related to climate change.