The Committee on European Integration of the Georgian Parliament will consider a draft resolution on the country’s integration into the European Union today.
The first meeting is scheduled in the Committee on European Integration, and the speaker is Maka Bochorishvili, the head of the Committee.
Georgia has applied to the European Union with an official application to join the bloc on March 3, Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili signed the official application on the same day.
The 13-point document calls on the EU member states and EU institutions to take all necessary steps to accelerate Georgia's accession to the EU.
The resolution of the Parliament of Georgia on EU integration reads:
"1. Based on the Constitution of Georgia, international treaties, legislative and sub-legislative normative acts, including the resolutions of the Parliament of Georgia "On the Main Directions of Georgia's Foreign Policy" March 7, 2013, "On Georgia's Foreign Policy" December 29, 2016 and December 29, 2020;
2. Guided by the unwavering will of the citizens of Georgia to integrate into European and Euro-Atlantic structures, by the historic choice enshrined in Article 78 of the Constitution of Georgia, which provides for "all necessary steps to ensure Georgia's full integration into the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization";
3. Considering the aspiration of the citizens of Georgia to make Georgia, as an integral part of European civilization and a bearer of European values, a full member of the European Union;
4. Declares that, since the restoration of independence, EU integration has been a driving force for Georgia's democratic development and economic transformation and a top foreign policy priority;
5. Welcomes the significant progress made by Georgia in fulfilling its commitments to the European Union following the conclusion of the Association Agreement between Georgia and the European Union in 2014, and notes that Georgia remains a committed ally of the European Union and a pillar of democracy in the region;
6. Notes that the implementation of the Association Agreement between Georgia and the European Union as a component of its deep and comprehensive free trade area is an important basis for enhancing prosperity and stability in the country, as well as for full integration into the European Union;
7. Calls on the Georgian executive to step up its efforts towards Georgia's European integration and to implement the Association Agreement between Georgia and the European Union, in order to properly prepare Georgia for EU membership;
8. Calls on the Georgian executive to be actively involved with the EU and partner countries in implementing projects that will enhance Georgia-EU transport links, as well as between Georgia and its partner countries, including the development of transport links between the Black Sea countries;
9. Welcoming the introduction of visa liberalization with the EU in 2017 and the granting of visa-free travel for Georgian citizens to the Schengen area, calls on the Georgian executive to continue to work actively with both EU institutions and the EU / Schengen area members to facilitate smooth functioning of visa-free travel and the legal employment of Georgian citizens in the EU;
10. Calls on the Georgian executive and the European Union to facilitate Georgia's participation in EU programs and agencies, as well as to accelerate Georgia's integration into the Common Economic Space of the European Union;
11. Calls on the European Union to engage at a high level in strengthening Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty, as well as in promoting peace and stability in Georgia and the region, and to step up efforts to fully monitor the implementation of the ceasefire agreement of 12 August 2008 in order to ensure access of the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) to the occupied territories of Georgia;
12. Calls on the European Union to ensure that the decision taken by the EU External Relations Council on 7 December 2020 on the imposition of EU global sanctions on human rights violations in the occupied territories of Georgia is extended to those responsible for human rights violations in the occupied territories, in order to stop human rights violations and illegal detentions in the occupied territories of Georgia;
13. Calls on the EU member states and the EU institutions to take all necessary steps to accelerate Georgia's accession to the European Union in accordance with Article 49 of the EU Treaty, in line with the European perspective."
The initiators of the project are Georgian Dream MPs: Maka Bochorishvili, Levan Karumidze, Nikoloz Samkharadze, Tamar Taliashvili, Givi Mikanadze, Mariam Lashkhi, Irakli Kobakhidze, Sozar Subari and Mamuka Mdinaradze.
