The European Commission published its Opinion on Georgia’s application for European Union membership.
The analytical report is a structural assessment against the criteria set by the European Council in Copenhagen in 1993 and subsequent European Council conclusions. It builds on knowledge and experience gained from the EU’s longstanding close cooperation with Georgia and Georgia’s answers to the detailed questionnaires it received on 11 and 19 April 2022.
The report covers several key areas such as justice, freedom, and security.
“The country has several strategies in place, notably on terrorism and migration. Legislation in some areas, notably on foreigners and asylum, is broadly aligned with the acquis. However, institutional cooperation and coordination are weak. As a result, implementation is sometimes unsatisfactory,” the document states.
Based on the report, Georgia has some level of preparation in the area of public procurement. However, “it should further align its legislative framework with the EU acquis, by including contracting entities in the utilities’ sectors and further align its legislation with the concessions directive on procurement in the defence and security sectors.”
The report noted that “Georgia has some level of preparation in the area of statistics.”
“To a large extent, national legal instruments are in place for producing required statistical data and further developing the system to approximate it with EU standards. As regards administrative capacity, the adequacy of resources is of concern.
The national statistical office, Geostat, has a relatively small number of employees and salary levels are not aligned with those of officials in other areas of public service. Financial and IT resources are also relatively limited.”
The Opinion also mentioned that Georgia is “moderately prepared” regarding the right of establishment and freedom to provide services. “Its legal framework provides for equal treatment of the rights of foreign natural and legal persons to establish companies and branches of foreign legal persons in Georgia.”
As regards the payment systems, “Georgia is advanced in terms of alignment with the EU acquis, administrative capacity, and enforcement.”
According to the document, Georgia is at an early stage of preparation in the area of competition policy.
“The country should continue to further align its legislative framework in this area, in particular on abuse of dominant position and cartels. Substantial changes to Georgia’s State aid legislation are needed to align it with the EU acquis in this area.”
The report went on to say that Georgia has some level of preparation in the field of consumer protection and public health. “Attention should be paid to aligning national legislation on consumer protection and on health with the EU acquis and ensuring its proper enforcement.”
“Georgia has taken some steps in the area of information society and media to align its legislation with the EU acquis. Georgia has several digital policy strategies in place, but efforts should be made to ensure that they are aligned with the EU’s “Shaping Europe’s Digital Future” and the “Digital Compass”.
The Opinion also noted that Georgia has some level of preparation in the area of taxation. Steps have been taken to align the legislation with the EU acquis on VAT and excise duties. Legislation on direct taxation remains to be aligned with the EU acquis and international best practices.
Alluding to the economic and monetary policy, it said that Georgia was “moderately prepared” in this regard.
“As regards monetary policy, the National Bank of Georgia is an efficient institution; its independence is guaranteed in the Constitution and legislation, and confirmed in practice. However, some legal provisions regarding the independence of the Bank need to be further clarified and aligned with the EU acquis.
On economic policy, efforts are required in some areas, such as improving the quality of analytical work and the institutional setup of the Parliamentary Budget Office to be aligned with EU requirements on independent fiscal institutions.
Georgia has achieved in a very short time good progress to align its research and innovation system to European and international practices. Georgia is moderately prepared in the area of science and research.”
The report says that Georgia is moderately prepared in the area of education and culture.
“The education system in Georgia is broadly aligned with the EU objectives. Georgia is also broadly aligned with the EU objectives on youth policy. Georgia’s cultural policy broadly reflects the general priorities of the New European Agenda for Culture. Georgia enjoys a good level of cooperation with its European partners on the sport. The country is broadly aligned with the EU policy on training and qualifications.”
As per the report, Georgia is at an early stage of preparation in the area of regional policy.
“The legislative framework on regional policy needs to be further aligned with the EU acquis in order to implement this policy effectively. The country needs to strengthen its administrative capacity in terms of programming, implementing, monitoring and evaluating EU funds, while building on the experience from the ENI CBC and Interreg NEXT programmes.
Regional development and cohesion remain important challenges. Efficient coordination is needed among the levels of government in preparing and implementing relevant sector strategic and planning documents. More capacities will be needed to prioritise planned interventions in the context of programming EU funds.”
