After the parliamentary majority meeting, Irakli Kobakhidze, the Georgian Dream Chair, briefed the media on conversations with the European Commission representatives about four issues on the EU integration path to progress by the end of this September.

Here is the GD Chair’s statement, as delivered:

Today, as you know, the session of the parliamentary majority took place, where we traditionally discussed various topics, including the issues of the parliamentary agenda.

Of course, the discussion addressed the statement of the State Security Service. The information released by the State Security Service is really alarming. Of course, all measures must be taken to prevent any attempts to destabilize the situation, any provocations, especially such heavy provocations as were mentioned in the information distributed by the State Security Service.

Also, our conversation touched on topics related to the European Union. As you know, a week ago, there were held meetings and, accordingly, negotiations took place with representatives of the European Commission, including Mr. Josep Borrell, as well as with other high-ranking officials of the European Commission.

At these meetings, four issues were identified, on which the European Commission wants to see progress by the end of September of this year. The government of Georgia will fully meet the expectations of the European Commission in all four directions. We agreed on this today at the majority meeting, and I want to touch on all four issues:

Based on the results of meetings with representatives of the European Commission, by the recommendations of the European Commission, the Commission for the Integration of Georgia into the European Union under the Government of Georgia has already approved a draft action plan for de-oligarchization, which will be finalized after additional consultations with the European Commission. In addition, by the end of this week, the draft action plan will be sent to the Venice Commission; this was also one of the recommendations of the European Commission.

With the approval of the action plan, the law “On deoligarchization” adopted by parliament in the 2nd reading lost its practical relevance. Therefore, also per the recommendation of the European Commission, the Parliament will consider the third reading tomorrow and will not accept the mentioned bill, which was based on a so-called personalized approach. At the same time, we call on the European Commission to abandon the personalized approach, which was reflected in the 12 priorities and which was actively used for speculation by the opposition in Georgia, as well as by MEPs and other foreign politicians associated with it – this was the first issue. As for deoligarchization, we fully respond to the request of the European Commission.

During the meetings with the representatives of the European Commission, there was a discussion about the additional amendments to be made in the Organic Law “On Common Courts”. 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 requests of the European Commission, which we also fully respond to.

As you know, the draft of amendments to the “Election Code” has been initiated in the Parliament of Georgia, which deals with the issue of electing the CEC chairman and members.

The Parliament will consider and adopt this draft law in the first reading during the current session week. Following the recommendation of the European Commission, the draft law will also be sent to the Venice Commission by the end of this week; Under 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.

In other words, Borrell, Koopman, and other top representatives of the European Commission have voiced four main recommendations, and we have a comprehensive response to all four issues; we have a proper answer to all topics.

In addition, by the recommendation of the European Commission, a national risk assessment document on money laundering will be approved shortly, based on the MONEYVAL recommendations.

Also, the 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 occurred on July 5, 2021, will be sent to the European Commission;

General and sectoral coordination meetings with non-governmental organizations will continue.

These were four additional recommendations presented to us by the European Commission, and we responded to all four accordingly.

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

We hope that the Council of Europe will make a fair decision in December that will eliminate the radical opposition’s artificial reason for inciting radicalism in the country and will qualitatively reduce the so-called Polarization, the maintenance of which can only be in the interests of Georgia’s ill-wishers.