Main Challenge for Democracy

Members of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament summarized the process of implementation of Association Agreements (AA) with Moldova and Georgia. The agreement went into force 2016 and the committee, in its report highlighted success as well as problems that need additional effort in order to make Georgia and Moldova closer to the EU family.

According to the information spread through the web page of the European Parliament, the committee has praised Georgia's efforts in implementing the Association Agreement and criticized Moldova.

"Members of the Foreign Relations Committee welcomed a stable course of Georgia's reforms, which makes the country the EU's main partner in the region. EU is now the largest trading partner of Georgia and the largest source of direct foreign investment. The European Parliament calls upon the Georgian authorities to continue promoting stability, further democratic reforms and improve economic and social conditions,” the statement reads.

But, at the same time MEPs emphasized that there is a corruption in high echelons, judiciary system is not fully independent and media market is politicized, so those issues are important obstacles on the way to EU membership.

“Together with named problems, Georgia still needs to work on other issues, including labor rights, economic emigration; high levels of corruption, abuse of power by law- enforcement organs, gender equality and children’s rights,” the committee stated.

The MEPs also noted that ten years after the 2008 war Russia continues the occupation of the territories of Georgia. They reiterated their unilateral support for Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty, adding that proactive communication with Georgian citizens on the tangible benefits that brings the Eastern Partnership is significant, as support from society is important for processes, that are ongoing quite well.

"Georgia has a clear aspiration to become a member of the European family and interparty consensus on the European agenda is very important. Implementation of the Association Agreement, including the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, goes well. Along with other issues, we also note positive dynamics in the direction of visa-free travel and negotiations between Georgia and the EU on security issues,“ said the rapporteur on Georgia, author of a report on the issue of implementation of the Association Agreement, Andrejs Mamikins.

The critical point that was voiced by MEPs was mainly based on the report done by the expert Nona Mikhelidze. According to her, governmental institutions in Georgia are weak and are governed by the “oligarch,” referring to Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder and chair of the ruling party Georgian Dream (GD)

“Main characters of state created by Ivanishvili are weakened institutions. State and non-state players, regulatory authorities and the society are influenced by one party,” writes Nona Mikhelidze.

According to her, non-formal governance is the main challenge for democracy in Georgia and it negatively affects all aspects of social and political life.