European Parliament 2014-2019 EU-Georgia Parliamentary Association Committee DSCA_PV(2017)091920 MINUTES of the 5th EU-Georgia Parliamentary Association Committee (PAC) 19 September 2017, 15.00-18.30, and 20 September 2017, 09.30-12.00 Tbilisi, Georgia Ilia Chavchavaze Hall, 5th Floor, C Block, Parliament of Georgia 1. Opening Remarks by the Co-Chairs of the EU-Georgia PAC Co-Chair Tamar KHULORDAVA opened the 5th Meeting of the EU-Georgia Parliamentary Association Committee and emphasized the important work of the EU-Georgia PAC, in monitoring the implementation of the Association Agreement/DCFTA, in providing guidance in EU-Georgia relations, and in strengthening the links between the European Parliament and the Parliament of Georgia. Co-Chair warmly welcomed the continuous deepening of EU-Georgia relations, which were marked by new historical achievements in EU-Georgia relations in particular the entry into force on 28 March 2017 of the visa-free regime between the EU and Georgia and the accession on 1 July 2017 of Georgia to the Energy Community Treaty. She further noted, that for the past several years, Georgia has been investing into building a strong European democracy with effective democratic institutions and open governance system, political pluralism, and strong rule of law and human rights protection, a functioning market economy and favorable business environment. Tamar KHULORDAVA reaffirmed that with political cooperation and tangible assistance from the European Union the common goals are being achieved and more is to be done in the future. The effective and full implementation of the Association Agreement remains a top priority for the state. Considering the accomplishments she pointed out Parliament’s resolve to double its efforts to provide new guidance for European Integration processes of Georgia, to ensure the legislative approximation with EU norms and standards. Ms KHULORDAVA voiced her expectations for the Eastern Partnership Summit in Brussels in November 2017. She assessed the Eastern Partnership as a successful political project, allowing for a well-structured working process. Despite the fact that with the AA and DCFTA EU-Georgia cooperation has reached a new level, Georgia looks ahead for new opportunities and a forward-looking vision for progressive development of partnership. She noted that comprehensive political association and economic integration will create a solid ground for Georgia’s deeper political integration into the EU in the long-term perspective. She pointed out that Georgia, as the frontrunner of the Eastern Partnership, hopes that summit will proudly declare that Georgia has common European future. PV\619.944EN.docx PE619.944v01-00 EN United in diversity EN Co-Chair Mr. KARIM welcomed important steps towards deepening relations between EU and Georgia, and historical decision of establishing visa-free regime for Georgian citizens. Traveling into Schengen area appears to be positive signal for further perception that Georgia belongs to the European family. He also stressed Georgia’s accession to the European Energy Community shows state’s commitment to succeed in its connection to European Energy Market by developing new sources of the Energy, strengthening energy infrastructure and ensuring fair competition among the suppliers. Furthermore, Co-Chair welcomed the implementation of Association Agenda where Georgia is advancing by taking advantages of increased financial support from the EU, which is twice more than a decade ago. Co-Chair welcomed the major democratic reforms that are in line with Georgia’s commitments towards the political association and economic integration with the EU, concerning democratic modernization, the judiciary, fight against corruption, public administration, good governance, penitentiary and human rights. Sajjad KARIM recalled the ongoing constitutional reform process in Georgia. He also stressed, that Georgia should follow the Venice commission advice and dare to reach consensus among all political groups and civil society. He added that the EU institutions share the opinion of Venice Commission. He stated that the ongoing transition from a presidential to the parliamentary system should meet the expectations of Georgian citizens and help the country to advance on its path to get even closer to the EU. Mr. KARIM concluded by praising Georgia’s contribution towards the successful implementation of Eastern Partnership and expressed hopes that upcoming summit provides good basis for Georgia's ambitions to deepen partnership with the EU. 2. Adoption of the Draft Agenda The draft agenda was amended due to the unavailability of some speakers. The item 6 of the agenda: The Peaceful Settlement of Conflict in Georgia has been discussed during the both working sessions of the Committee Meeting. 3. Adoption of the Minutes of the Fourth Meeting of the EU-Georgia PAC held in Strasbourg on 15-16 February 2017 Members were informed that the minutes of this meeting, prepared as usual by the host Parliament, had been distributed and were available in their files. It was agreed that if no correction suggestions would have been received by the following day, they would be deemed adopted. 4. State of play of EU-Georgia relations: Opening statements by the Deputy Foreign Minister of Georgia, Mr Vakhtang MAKHAROBLISHVILI and H.E. Mr Janos HERMAN, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Georgia Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Mr. MAKHAROBLISHVILI presented the current state of play of EU-Georgia relations, marked with major turning points for Georgia. He affirmed the visa-free regime for Georgia as the most visible and tangible gain for the entire population of the country and an additional incentive for the Georgian government to continue the pace of reforms. He presented the constructive working relations between the government and the European institutions to ensure smooth operation of the visa-free regime. Mr. MAKHAROBLISHVILI thanked the EU’s for its solid assistance through a wide-range of programs and instruments that has been vital in achieving the common objectives, including EU’s targeted support for SMEs, through EU4Business and the DCFTA facility, as well as ENPARD, which has proved extremely instrumental for Georgian farmers. Deputy Minister shed the light on the implementation of the EU-Georgia Association Agreement and stressed that much has been done and acknowledged that more needs to be accomplished in order to achieve the shared goals of EU-Georgia partnership, he expressed hope that the EU’s support will PE619.944v01-00 2/14 PV\619.944EN.docx EN continue to strengthen and expand to correspond the ambitious goals of Association Agreement. Mr. MAKHAROBLISHVILI stated that Georgia continues to move forward on the European integration through the concrete plan, according to which the concrete approximation policies are identified as following: legislative and institutional approximation, enhancing Georgia’s involvement in the EU specialized agencies and programs, deepening sectorial cooperation, expanding interconnections, as well as intensifying cooperation in the field of security and defense. Ambassador Janos HERMAN, Head of the European Union Delegation to Georgia, also addressed the Committee, and underlined the importance of the Parliamentary Association Committee meeting format for the association process. Mr HERMAN assessed the current state of play of EU-Georgia relations as strong and closer as never before, based on the lasting commitments on both sides of EU-Georgia relations. He stressed that by Georgian side these commitments are to advance the democratic reforms and to further promote European values and from the EU side the commitment is to facilitate the process of the approximation through the instruments and means that the European Union has. EU Ambassador emphasized that one year anniversary of the Association Agreement coincides with the new development in Georgian Parliamentarism, the process which is closely scrutinized by the EU and reminded that consensual approaches and inclusiveness are the basic European value underlying the all political processes. On the planned Eastern Partnership summit Mr HERMAN expressed hope for generating further impetus to develop the Eastern Partnership and overall relationships. He recognized Georgia’s willingness to be acknowledged for its democratic achievements. Mr. HERMAN commented on the progress of the democratic process and human rights, rule of law and good governance, stressed the decisive significance of justice sector and noted EU’s appreciation for Georgia’s contribution to Foreign and Security Policy. He also reaffirmed that the EU is committed to continue grant support to Georgia, and confirmed that European Union is to continue more engagement in the areas of connectivity and transport to deliver on the joint task for contributing to economic resilience and economic development for the benefit of ever wider group of Georgians. 5. Democratic Reforms and Protection of fundamental freedoms in Georgia Constitutional Reform The Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia, Mr. Irakli KOBAKHIDZE gave the overview on the constitutional reform process that began in December, 2016, as a key priority of the pre-election program of the “Georgian Dream” Party, and outlined the activities of the state constitutional commission, composed of 73 members. After some unsuccessful attempts of undertaking constitutional reform in previous years, the Parliament launched an ambitious constitutional