European Parliament Adopts Resolution after Debating a Report on Georgia
By Gvantsa Gabekhadze
Friday, November 16
The European Parliament (EP) adopted a resolution on Georgia late on Wednesday after MEPs discussed and debated about the report drafted by Andrejs Mamikins about the implementation process of the EU-Georgia Association Agreement (AA) deal signed in 2014.
The pace of reforms of Georgia and Moldova has been discussed and the resolutions have been adopted for both countries, which signed the AA deals with the EU on the same year.
The resolution on Moldova was adopted by 396 votes to 76, with 186 abstentions, while the resolution on Georgia was approved by 528 votes to 97, with 34 abstentions.
In the resolution on Georgia MEPs welcomed Georgia’s sustained reform track and progress made in implementing the EU association agreement.
They note that the EU is now Georgia’s largest trade partner and the largest source of foreign direct investment.
“Therefore, MEPs call on the Georgian authorities to continue ensuring stability, further democratic reforms, as well as economic and social improvements for Georgians, who are affected by poverty, unemployment and economic emigration. High-level corruption, full independence of the judiciary, the depoliticization of media content, labor and human rights and environmental protection, also remain areas of concern, MEPs stress,” the resolution says.
“The resolution also recalls with regret that after ten years, Russia still continues its illegal occupation of Georgian territories. MEPs reiterate their unequivocal support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia and emphasize the importance of proactive communication to Georgian citizens about the tangible benefits and goals of the Eastern Partnership,” the resolution reads.
Regarding the 2018 presidential elections in Georgia, MEPs welcomed their “competitive nature and the absence of cases of violence”.
They invited the authorities and political parties to address the issues of concern, as highlighted by the International Election Observation mission, notably the misuse of state resources, excessively high caps in campaign financing and the targeting of independent civil society organizations.
The resolution also recalled “with regret” that after ten years, Russia still continues its illegal occupation of Georgian territories. MEPs reiterated their “unequivocal support: for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia and emphasized the importance of proactive communication to Georgian citizens about the tangible benefits and goals of the Eastern Partnership.
