The Open Society Georgia Foundation (OSGF) and a group of experts unveiled to the public a 2010 report – The European Neighborhood Policy: Implementation of the Objectives of the EU-Georgia Action Plan – in the Tbilisi Marriot Hotel on March 15. The event was attended by representatives of non-governmental organizations, international organizations, the media and the diplomatic corps.
In 2006, the government of Georgia undertook commitments under the European Neighbourhood Policy Action Plan (ENP AP) in order to fulfil the country’s European aspirations. Since then, the OSGF along with other donor, international or local civil organizations has kept track of the process. It has evaluated progress and identified
problems.
Media independence, rule of law, the human rights policy, steps made for the improvement of election environment, security, economic development and environmental protection are the priorities selected by the OSGF and experts (Tamar Khidasheli, Revaz Sakevarishvili, Nino Danelia, Tamar Pataraia, Manana Kochladze, Mariam Gabedava, Ekaterine Siradze) for monitoring and analysis. The report consequently concentrated on the issues.
“Given the recent developments, the public attention has focused on the media, constitutional amendments, economic development, the steps made for the improvement of election environment, but the report also deals with the level of court independence, improvement of social conditions, environmental and climate change related policies,” said Keti Khutsishvili, the OSGF Executive Director.
According to the report, the distribution of power among the branches of the government still remains a problem. Progress has not been observed in terms of the improvement of media environment either.
“In terms of the evaluation of media environment, the transparency of media owners and financial interference in the media market by the state have drawn attention,” said Nino Danelia, a media expert.
Philip Dimitrov, the EU ambassador to Georgia, said: “It is very good when NGOs are involved in the monitoring process. The report has showed both problems and progress in different directions” (listen).
The comment of French Ambassador to Georgia Eric Furnie sounded critical:
”After hearing you as a European diplomat I became totally depressed. It seems that all the efforts of European Union have been like pouring water in the sand that we are making absolutely no progress. I see that nothing has left from European values: lack of freedom of the media, total contempt for labor trade union, lack of progress in Economy.”(listen).
As a response to French diplomat Director of Open Society Georgia Foundation Keti Khutsishvili stressed that the report focuses not only on problems but it also describes progress and obstacles to the efficient implementation of reforms by Georgia.
“We, as civil society, have focused on current problems and challenges, however this does not mean the country has not made any progress in terms of meeting the commitments,” said Keti Khutsishvili.
The monitoring outcomes have been already unveiled in Brussels (February 2011) to officials of the European Commission, European Parliament and different non-governmental organizations operating in Europe.
For more information about monitoring outcomes see the press-release.
See the English version of the report.
See media coverage of the event.