EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PARLIAMENT OF GEORGIA EU-GEORGIA PARLIAMENTARY COOPERATION COMMITTEE MINUTES of the FIRST MEETING November 3 – 4, 2015 TBILISI CONTENT 1. Opening Remarks by Co-Chairs: Mr Zivad KVATCHANTRADZE, Mr Sajjad KARIM 2. Adoption of the Agenda 3. State of play of EU-Georgia relations: Opening statements by the Government of Georgia & the European External Action Service - Ms. Thea TSULUKIANI, Minister of Justice of Georgia - H.E. Janos HERMAN, Head of the EU Delegation to Georgia 4. Implementation of the EU-Georgia Association Agreement and DCFTA - Mr. Gigi GIGIADZE, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister of Georgia on state of play of EU-Georgia VISA Dialogue (VLAP) - Mrs. Irma KAVTARADZE, Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, on Implementation of DCFTA - Mr. Irakli KHMALADZE, Deputy Minister of Energy of Georgia, on Energy Agenda in the European Integration processes of Georgia - Mrs. Nino GRDZELISHVILI, Head of European Integration Coordination Department, Office of State Minister of Georgia on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, on Implementation of Association Agreement 5. EU assistance in support of the implementation of the Association Agreement - Mr. Kaido SIREL, Head of Operations of EU Delegation to Georgia, on EU assistance in support of the implementation of the Association Agreement - Mr. Lasha TUGUSHI, Chairperson of Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum Georgian National Platform, the role of the civil society in the implementation of Association Agreement 6. Consolidation of the Democratic Reforms in Georgia - Mr. Aleksandre BARAMIDZE, First Deputy Minister of Justice of Georgia, on democracy, rule of law and good governance, reform of the justice sector, protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, freedom of expression and independence of the media - Mr. Shalva KHUTSISHVILI, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia, on reform of the security sector and law enforcement bodies, the role of MIA in process of European Integration 7. Adoption of the Final Statement and Recommendations 8. The Peaceful Settlement of conflict in Georgia - Ms. Martha FREEMAN (tbc), Political Adviser, Head of Regional Office of the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus & the crisis in Georgia, on the peaceful settlement of conflict in Georgia - H.E. Kęstutis JANKAUSKAS, Head of Mission, EUMM On the latest state-of-play (including ABL developments) - Mr. Paata ZAKAREISHVILI, State Minister of Georgia for Reconciliation and Civic Equity, on Georgia's approach towards its breakaway regions, current situation of the refugees and the IDPs in Georgia - Mr. Revaz BESHIDZE, Director of the Department of International Organizations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, on update on the Geneva International Discussions 9. Consideration of the draft Rules of Procedure of the Parliamentary Association Committee 10. Any other business 11. Date and place of next meeting 1 3 November, 2015 The First EU-Georgia Parliamentary Association Committee Meeting opened under the Co- Chairmanship of Mr Zviad KVATCHANTIRADZE and Mr Sajjad KARIM at 14.00 PM on November 3, 2015. 1. Opening Remarks by Co-Chairs: Mr Zviad KVATCHANTIRADZE, Mr Sajjad KARIM Mr. KVATCHANTIRADZE, (Georgian Dream) in his opening remark highlighted the importance of the relations between the European Union and Georgia, their new contractual relations and the need for its advancement. He pointed out that the Association Agreement including DCFTA empowers the Government of Georgia, reinforces its efficiency, gives it new profile in external affairs, and helps Georgia’s advancement in democratic reforms. He reiterated the declared political will of government to create an effective governing system in Georgia, and therefore, to develop and improve an adequite legislative basis, that will be in full compliance with international obligations, as well as with the demand of every single citizen of the country, and with the democratic values in general. He further stressed that the country is making progress even if the progress is incomplete or uneven. The democratic scrutiny process, by which the Parliament of Georgia exercises oversight, adds legitimacy to the policies and will be maintained in the future. Co-Chair underlined the readiness of Georgia for co-operation with the EU to tackle geopolitical consequences and political challenges that country faces. Mr. KARIM, (MEP, UK, European Conservatives and Reformists Group) thanked the Georgian authority for the warm welcome for the EP high level delegation. Mr Karim welcomed first formal meeting of the EU-Georgia PAC and congratulated Mr KVATCHANTIRADZE for his election as a chair of the EU-Georgia PAC and also on the taking the position of Parliamentary Majority. He recalled useful preliminary talks conducted between the Co-Chairs in the framework of annual International Conference Georgia’s European Way in the city of Batumi in June 2015. Mr KARIM highlighted the joint commitment to cement the Georgia’s European Way, hi underlined continues support that has been provided over the last year by the European Parliament that overwhelmingly ratified the EU-Georgia Association Agreement. Considering the First Meeting of EU-Georgia PAC he recalled to set ambitious agenda for renewed interparliamentary dialogue between the Parliament of Georgia and European Parliament. Partner’s ambition is to create solid partnership and use the framework of EU-Georgia PAC to discuss constructively all aspects of EU-Georgia Relationship. He expressed his hope that the dialogue will be delivered over the course of the first meeting constructively according to European way that Georgia has clearly chosen to embark on. 2. Adoption of the Agenda By the initiative of the Co-Chairs, the Parliamentary Association Committee amended the draft agenda and moved the item 8: Consideration of the draft Rules of Procedure of the Parliamentary Association Committee and item 9: Adoption of the Final Statement and Recommendations in the program of first working day. The amendment to the agenda was put to vote and adopted consequently. 2 3. State of play of EU-Georgia relations Opening statements by the Government of Georgia & the European External Action Service Ms. Thea TSULUKIANI, Minister of Justice of Georgia, addressed the PAC on behalf of the Government of Georgia. She expressed gratitude towards the elected members of the Parliament from the ruling majority as well as opposition involved in the work of delegations with European Parliament. The process of Association with the EU is not the topic of any party, is the objective of whole country, the European choice belongs to people of Georgia and not to any concrete government. Minister described the important accomplishments achieved over the course of last three years by the government. The executives would not have been able to deliver such an large scale reforms without the explicit support from the Parliamentary committees. These reforms are comprehensive reforms in the field of justice, to support of rights of child, to empower the attorneys in the law court in order to ensure the equality of parties. Minister stressed the initiation of the unti- discrimination law, which was difficult and painful activity, in the framework of visa liberalisation action plan. The comprehensively reformed plea bargain procedure ensured the transparency of the process and eliminated chance for bargain where money can be changed for liberty. Mrs Tsulukiani pointed out the reforms aimed to ensure the rights of woman, in this regards the signature of Istanbul Convention was highlighted. Minister described the achievements in the field of human rights in the country, she reminded about the situation in prisons, during the previous administration, where the number of detainees amounted to 25000 people, in the inhuman conditions. To address the situation the Parliament adopted the act of amnesty on the basis of human principles. Minister talked about the revision of criminal code, which did not hindered the country’s image to be one of the safest in European. The result of the presented and other reforms was the decrease in number of application to human rights count. Minister said that today’s problem that country faces are the sophisticated problem’s that can be considered and addressed. Mrs Tskulukiani stressed that the Georgian Dream government will leave the positive legacy for future government, with guaranteed support to human rights, depoliticized prosecutor’s office, independent and unbiased judicial system, liberated media, and better political tendencies. GD Government build the credibility and trust in the public for free and fair election as only tool for power shift. Mrs Tsulukiani expressed her view on the future government, no matter who, it will be the European government reflecting the strong European choice of the Georgian people, empowered with strong Parliament and real opposition. As an answer to the questions of European parliamentarians, Minister concluded that the European colleagues need to be engaged more in European integration processes in Georgia through the strengthened political dialogue and regular communication to hear the ongoing processes and unfolding events in the country. H.E. Janos HERMAN, Head of the EU Delegation to Georgia, welcomed the first meeting of EU- Georgia PAC, he started to reflect the European integration challenges that EU faces today during in his long history. He also commented on the transitional challenge Georgia