Parliamentary Majority Session Held at Georgian Dream Head Office

After the conclusion of the session of the parliamentary majority, which was held at the head office of the Georgian Dream, Irakli Kobakhidze, the chairman of the party and the leader of the parliamentary majority, made a statement.

“Today, as you know, the session of the parliamentary majority took place. As per tradition, we discussed various topics there, including issues of the parliamentary agenda.

Of course, the discussion touched on the statement of the State Security Service. The information released by the State Security Service is really concerning. Of course, all measures should be taken in order to put a stop to any attempt to disrupt the state of affairs, any provocation, especially the grave provocations that were discussed in the information released by the State Security Service.

Also, our discussion touched on topics pertaining to the European Union.

As you know, meetings were held one week ago and, correspondingly, negotiations were held with representatives of the European Commission, including Mr. Josep Borrell, as well as with other high-ranking officials of the European Commission.

Four issues were identified during these meetings, in connection with which the European Commission wants to see progress by the end of September of this year. The Government of Georgia will fully respond to the expectations of the European Commission in all four areas – we agreed on this today at the meeting of the majority, and I would like to address all four issues:

1. After the meetings with the representatives of the European Commission, in accordance with the recommendation of the European Commission, the Commission for the Integration of Georgia into the European Union under the Government of Georgia has already approved the draft action plan for deoligarchization, which will be finalized after additional consultations with the European Commission. In addition, the draft action plan will be sent to the Venice Commission by the end of this week – this was also one of the recommendations of the European Commission. Given the approval of the action plan, the law “On Deoligarchization” adopted by the Parliament in two hearings has lost its practical relevance. Therefore, also in accordance with the recommendation of the European Commission, the Parliament will consider the said draft law – which was based on the so-called personalized approach – in the third reading tomorrow and will not adopt it. At the same time, we call on the European Commission to reject the personalized approach, which was reflected in the 12 priorities, and which was actively used for speculation by both the opposition in Georgia and the MEPs and other foreign politicians connected with it. This was the first issue. With regard to deoligarchization, we are in full compliance with the requirement of the European Commission.
   
   
2. During the meetings with representatives of the European Commission, the additional amendments to be made to the Organic Law “On Common Courts” were also discussed. Taking into account the consultations, the parliamentary majority has already developed the relevant draft law, which will be reviewed and sent to the Venice Commission by the end of this week. This was also one of the requirements of the European Commission, which we have also fully met.
   
   
3. As you know, draft amendments to the “Election Code” have been initiated in the Parliament of Georgia, which deals with the issue of electing the CEC chairperson and its members. The Parliament will consider and adopt this law in the first reading during the current session week. In accordance with the recommendation of the European Commission, the draft law will also be sent to the Venice Commission by the end of this week.
   
   
4. In accordance with the recommendation of the European Commission, the legislation related to the establishment of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, the Special Investigation Service, and the Personal Data Protection Service will be sent to the Venice Commission by the end of this week.

That is, there were four main recommendations voiced by Borrell, Koopman, high representatives of the European Commission, and we have acted on all four issues, we have an appropriate response for all topics.

In addition, in accordance with the recommendation of the European Commission, in line with the recommendations of MONEYVAL, a national risk assessment document on money laundering will be approved in the near future;

Also, an initial draft of the Human Rights Strategy Action Plan will be prepared;

Also, information on the investigation related to the identification and prosecution of the organizers of the violence that took place on 5 July 2021 will be sent to the European Commission;

Both general and specialized coordination meetings with nongovernmental organizations will continue.These were the four additional recommendations presented to us by the European Commission, and we responded to all four recommendations accordingly.

As you can see, the Government of Georgia is doing everything in order not to leave even the smallest reason for Georgia the Georgian people, and the Government of Georgia to be refused candidate status once again.

We hope that the European Council will make a fair decision in December, which will deprive the radical opposition of the artificial pretext for inciting radicalism in the country, and will qualitatively reduce so-called polarization, whose retention can only be in the interests of those who wish Georgia ill.”