A group of parliamentary opposition parties and independent MPs working on the EC’s 12 recommendations for Georgia’s candidate status published a basic package of joint legislative initiatives on Wednesday.

The statement, signed by Strategy Agmashenebeli, UNM, Lelo, Republican Party, Tamar Charkviani, Armaz Akhvlediani, Shalva Shavgulidze, Tamar Kordzaia and Nato Chkheidze, suggests basic approaches which are in accord with domestic NGOs and “realistic to be carried out in no time.”

Below are the main takeaways from their outlook:

• Return to/fulfil the April 19th Agreement, including the adoption of the Constitutional amendments in the second and third reading and the end of politicized justice;
• Adopt/implement a new strategy and action plan for judicial reform;
• Select members of the High Council of Justice (HCOJ) with appropriate qualifications and reputations;
• Start the HCOJ reform;
• Create the National Anti-Corruption Agency;
• Effectively probe into the July 5-6 events;
• Halt ongoing investigations and court proceedings against media outlets;
• Elaborate alternative proposals on the Broadcasting law.

The signatories stressed that the Georgian Dream and Bidzina Ivanishvili[GD founder, ex-PM] must share their vision if they “really want” the country to get the candidate status. “Otherwise, Georgian Dream and Bidzina Ivanishvili will be fully responsible for the status rejection.”