EU Political and Security Committee Visits Georgia

The delegation of the Political and Security Committee (PSC) of the European Union is visiting Georgia on April 10-11. During the visit, the members of the delegation have already met with the President of Georgia, Salome Zurabishvili, the Prime Minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, the Foreign Minister, Ilia Darchiashvili, the Minister of Defense, Irakli Chikovani, as well as with members of the parliamentary majority and opposition. The PSC will also meet the representatives of civil society, and visit the EU’s civilian monitoring mission (EUMM Georgia) and the occupation line.

PSC is a permanent body within the European Union dealing with Common Foreign and Security Policy issues, including Common Security and Defense Policy.

The visit is part of a larger journey to the region, including meetings in Armenia (8-9 April) as well as Azerbaijan (11-12 April), and pursues the objective of strengthening the dialogue with partners in a region of key importance for the EU, according to the EEAS official press release.

EEAS Press Release on the Occasion of PSC Visit to Georgia

The press release recalls the “historic decision by the European Council to grant Georgia candidate status and stress the importance for Georgia “to seize the moment on its path to EU integration” while also emphasizing the merit-based nature of the accession process. The EU Member States “invite the Georgian authorities to take necessary steps to reach this objective.” The statement says: “In this context, the European Commission’s recommendations of 8 November 2023 in form of the Nine Steps provide a clear guidance. The necessary reforms and progress need to be delivered without delays and in a whole-of-society approach, involving the government, all political parties and civil society.”

The press release calls “to avoid any decisions that could obstruct the way toward the EU” noting that “concerns with regard to some recent initiatives, including the draft law on “Transparency of Foreign Influence”, have been raised with the Georgian authorities”

The Members of the PSC also highlight the need for free and fair upcoming parliamentary elections on 26 October 2024 and stress the need to address all remaining ODIHR and Venice Commission recommendations on amendments to the election code.

Meeting with President of Georgia

On April 10, the EU PSC delegation met with the Georgian President, Salome Zurabishvili at the Orbeliani Presidential Palace. During the meeting, the sides discussed EU-Georgia relations, the reintroduction of the so-called Russian law, and Black Sea security issues.

The presidential administration said that the discussions also focused on the situation in the occupied territories of Georgia, as the delegation reiterated its firm support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia. For her part, President Zurabishvili expressed her gratitude for the EU monitoring mission.

The President emphasized that “the EU integration process is very important for the Georgian people” that, she stressed, shares the EU values.

The President also discussed the reintroduced Russian-style Foreign Agents Law, calling it a “challenge” for the country and noting that if passed, the law will have an “impact” on civil society. “Destroying the civil sector, which protects the values of the EU, is in fact the real goal of Russia,” the official press release said.

“When it comes to the choice between Europe and Russia, the President cannot be neutral,” Zurabishvili said at the meeting.

President Zurabishvili also spoke about abolishing gender quotas for women MPs in Parliament, saying that recent rhetoric on the issue in the country was “unacceptable”.

During the meeting the parties also discussed the security issues of the Black Sea. According to the Georgian President, the security of the Black Sea is not only for the region, but for the whole of Europe. She also noted that Russia is trying to turn it into a “sea of confrontation.”

Meeting with Prime Minister

The EU PSC also met with the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Kobakhidze.

During the meeting the sides discussed Georgia’s integration into the EU, the importance of granting Georgia the status of an EU candidate country, the progress of reforms and the regional situation.

According to the official press release of the Government administration, PM Kobakhidze emphasized that Georgia’s accession to the EU remains “one of the main priorities” of the country’s foreign policy.

The sides also discussed EU-Georgia cooperation in the fields of economic integration and security, noting that Georgia “remains the EU’s reliable partner in the region.”

Other discussions focused on reforms under the Association Agenda and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) agreement.

The sides also discussed the situation in the occupied territories of Georgia as PM Kobakhidze thanked the members of the delegation for supporting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia.

Meeting with Foreign Minister

On April 10, the EU PSC delegation also met with Georgian FM Ilia Darchiashvili.

According to the official press release of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the sides discussed the security situation in Georgia and the region. FM Darchiashvili informed the members of the delegation about the difficult security and humanitarian situation in the occupied territories and reiterated the Government’s firm commitment to the peaceful settlement of the conflict. For their part, the members of the delegation underlined the EU’s unwavering support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Special attention was paid to Georgia’s role for the EU in the Black Sea region.

The sides also discussed Georgia’s EU integration process. The PSC members congratulated Georgia on obtaining the status of an EU candidate country and noted that “the EU door is open” for Georgia. FM Darchiashvili reiterated “the Government’s loyalty to the country’s European course and readiness to implement the complex reform agenda,” according to the official press release. FM Darchiashvili informed the guests about the process of implementation of the nine conditions set by the European Commission for Georgia and expressed his expectation that Georgia “will move to the next stage of accession in accordance with the important progress [it is making].”

Meeting with Defense Minister

On April 10, the PSC delegation also met with Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Chikovani and other Defense Ministry officials.

During the meeting, Minister Chikovani informed the members of the delegation about the reforms in the defense sector, the sides discussed the developments in various formats of cooperation with the EU. According to the official press release of the Ministry, the sides paid attention to the financial assistance provided within the framework of the European Peace Facility (EPF), as well as to the issues of cooperation within the framework of the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) and other regional challenges.

Meeting with the Parliamentary Majority

Another meeting was held with members of the parliamentary majority, including the Chair of the EU Integration Committee, Maka Botchorishvili, and the Chair of the Education, Science and Youth Affairs Committee, Givi Mikanadze.

Discussions focused on the political processes in Georgia, the country’s security challenges, and its progress towards EU integration. In addition, the talks focused on the process of implementing the nine steps set out by the European Commission for the country.

Meeting with the Parliamentary Opposition

On April 10, the EU PSC also met with members of the parliamentary opposition.

Discussions focused on Georgia’s EU integration process, the implementation of the European Commission’s conditions and challenges in this regard, as well as the upcoming parliamentary elections.

The parties paid special attention to the legislative initiative of the Russian-style law on foreign agents.

More to Follow…

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