Europe Foundation and twenty-four members of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum’s Georgian National Platform call upon the Prime Minister of Georgia, the Government of Georgia, the Parliament of Georgia, and other stakeholders to engage in open discussions about the political role and functions of the Office of the State Minister of Georgia on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, in order to make sure that the suggested structural changes will not hinder the strategically important Euro-Atlantic integration of Georgia.
“Georgia sees its future in Europe. The process of European integration assists the country in improving living standards for all citizens, helping them to achieve economic prosperity and social justice. The existence of the Office of the State Minister of Georgia on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration shows that European Integration is a national priority and shared an institutional starting point.
Against this backdrop, it is unacceptable to merge the Office of State Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs without prior consultations with the public, experts, and other stakeholders. Apart from this non-transparent decision on structural changes, the Government of Georgia has yet to issue a statement on which Government agencies will carry out the many functions of the Office, specifically, the coordination and monitoring of the reforms carried out in the framework of the European integration by various ministries and state agencies. Given that both the Association Agreement between Georgia and the European Union and the expectation of the majority of Georgian population toward the European integration process are concerned with implementing social and economic reforms within the country, it is questionable how the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, which is tasked to conduct foreign policy, can coordinate the various activities implemented by various state agencies as part of the country’s European integration commitments.
We call upon the Prime Minister of Georgia, the Government of Georgia, the Parliament of Georgia and other stakeholders to hold open discussions about the political role and functions of the Office of the State Minister of Georgia on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration to make sure that suggested structural changes will not hinder strategically important Euro-Atlantic integration of Georgia.”
