The European Commission adopted the 2023 Enlargement Package, providing a detailed assessment of the state of play and the progress made by Georgia on their respective paths towards accession to the European Union. In particular, the report focuses on the progress in the implementation of fundamental reforms, as well as on providing clear guidance on the reform priorities ahead. Accession is and will remain a merit-based process, fully dependent on the objective progress achieved by each country.
Georgia has taken steps to strengthen engagement with the EU and increased pace of reforms in the recent months. To address the twelve priorities identified in the Commission Opinion on its membership application, Georgia has adopted legislative acts and policy actions on gender equality, on fighting violence against women and organised crime, as well as on taking into account European Court of Human Rights judgments. A judicial reform has been brought forward although a holistic reform of the High Council of Justice is still needed. Georgia has shared laws as well as its action plan for deoligarchisation with the Venice Commission for an opinion. A strategy on the protection of human rights was adopted and an action plan is being elaborated. A memorandum of cooperation with civil society representatives was concluded. Building a strong cross-party political consensus would contribute to addressing polarisation and accelerate its European path.
9 Recommendations That Georgia Be Granted EU Candidate Status:
1) Fight against disinformation, foreign information manipulations and [foreign] interference about the European Union and its values;
2) Improving the rate of alignment of Georgia's foreign policy with the common foreign and security policy of the European Union;
3) Additional fight against political polarization - including by working more inclusively with the opposition parties in the Parliament, especially on the legislation related to the European integration of Georgia;
4) Ensuring a free, fair and competitive electoral process - especially in 2024 - and fully taking into account the recommendations of the OSCE's democratic institutions and the Human Rights Office. completing electoral reforms, including ensuring adequate voter representation well in advance of election day;
5) Further improvement of parliamentary oversight, especially over security services. Ensuring the institutional independence and impartiality of key institutions, especially the election administration, the National Bank and the Communications Regulatory Commission;
6) Completion and implementation of comprehensive and effective judicial reform, including the comprehensive reform of the Supreme Council of Justice and the Prosecutor's Office, fully implementing the recommendations of the Venice Commission through a transparent and inclusive process;
7) Ensuring the effectiveness and institutional independence and impartiality of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, the Special Investigation Service and the Personal Data Protection Service. Considering the recommendations of the Venice Commission regarding these bodies through an inclusive process. accumulation of strong experience in effective investigation of cases of corruption and organized crime;
8) Improvement of the existing action plan on de-oligarchization in order to implement de-oligarchization with a multi-sectoral, systemic approach, in accordance with the recommendations of the Venice Commission and as a result of a transparent and inclusive process, with the involvement of opposition parties and civil society;
9) Improving human rights protection standards, including by adopting an ambitious human rights strategy and ensuring freedom of assembly and expression. Initiate impartial, effective and timely investigations into incidents of threats against vulnerable groups, media professionals and civil activists and bring to justice the organizers and perpetrators of violence. Holding consultations with civil society, ensuring their involvement in the law-making and policy-making process and ensuring their freedom to work.
