Georgian Parliament, EaP National Platform sign Memorandum on Cooperation aimed at fulfilling EU recommendation
Papuashvili stressed the importance of the Platform’s work, which as part of the Association Agreement ensures “the transition of the vast amount of the legal acts not only in the capacity of the legislative texts but also the norms that will be acceptable, perceivable and enforceable by the society”. Photo via Parliament of Georgia
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A Memorandum on Cooperation between the Georgian Parliament and the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum’s National Platform was signed on Friday by Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili and the Chair of the Platform Nino Chkhobadze, with the move aimed at fulfilling the 10th paragraph of the European Union recommendations outlined for the country to receive membership candidate status.
Papuashvili stressed the importance of the Platform’s work, which as part of the Association Agreement ensures “the transition of the vast amount of the legal acts not only in the capacity of the legislative texts but also the norms that will be acceptable, perceivable and enforceable by the society”.
He emphasised the Parliament “particularly intensified” relations with the National Platform, which unifies over 200 non-governmental organisations, after Georgia submitted the EU membership application and received the EU priorities. “The Platform constitutes an everlasting source of professional advice and recommendations, and on the other hand, these relations are so valuable as any reforms and novelties need to be accepted by the society”, the Parliament Speaker added.
Photo via Parliament of Georgia
Memorandum implies the continuation of the “intensive relations”, Papuashvili said, stressing the legislative body “undertakes to proactively share all legal initiatives” with the Platform and “to ensure close collaboration in this format”.
Chkhobadze said “we strive to be the members of a large European family. I would like to express my gratitude for your support and hope that our platform will facilitate by submitting certain proposals to our legislation for its higher transparency for the Georgian citizens”.
She emphasised the signing of the Memorandum would “further enhance” the cooperation between the lawmaking body and the National Platform, which would ensure the “intensified” engagement of the civil sector in the decision-making process.
Maka Botchorishvili, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament's European Union Integration Committee, on Saturday said Georgia’s partners “appreciated” the progress achieved by the country over the years.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Friday said Tbilisi had “grounds for optimism” about obtaining the European Union membership candidate status later this year.
Josep Borrell, the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs, on Thursday said he had “optimistic” expectations regarding the European Commission’s upcoming decision on Georgia’s EU membership candidate status.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Tuesday discussed his Government's efforts to meet the European Union’s conditions for granting Tbilisi its membership candidate status with Paolo Gentiloni, the European Commissioner for Economic Affairs, as part of his Strasbourg trip.
Ilia Darchiashvili, the Georgian Foreign Minister, on Monday said the ministerial meeting of the European Union’s Eastern Partnership initiative later today would stress Tbilisi’s "keen interest" in maintaining “active participation” in the format.