EU assists in improving human rights in Georgia
By Mushvig Mehdiyev
The European Union allocated Georgia a solid financial assistance package to improve on the country's judiciary system and to develop its human rights track record.
Georgia and the EU signed two financing agreements with a total budget of 60 million euros on May 14.
The agreements foresee 50 million euros in support of the judiciary sector and 10 million euros in support of the human rights programs within the EU initiative titled "More for More".
The allocation implies support for implementing priority reforms under the Association Agreement and the agenda of the AA.
Namely, 50 million euros will be placed in improving the justice administration system, consolidating the rule of law, strengthening human rights protection in line with international and European standards, sharing the best European experience, supporting the independence of judges and increasing the capacity of court staff.
"With the support of respective government agencies, the program would promote establishing an effective system of governance, the promotion of human rights, the rule of law and respect of fundamental freedoms," David Bakradze, Georgia’s State Minister on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, said.
Nearly 30 million euros of the 50 million euro assistance will be implemented within the framework of the EU budgetary assistance. Georgia will receive the funding in annual tranches during four years. The remaining 20 million euros will address the implementation of the projects in the above-mentioned directions with 10 million assistance in implementation of the Georgian National Human Rights Strategy and Action Plan.
The allocation generally envisages supporting key areas of the AA, as well as the Visa Liberalization Action Plan, particularly the parts dealing with fundamental rights.
These areas include the rights of minorities and vulnerable groups, internal and external oversight of law enforcement, protection of privacy, labor rights, freedom of expression and information.
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