Seven towns of Georgia have gained the status of a ‘self-governing city’. Determination of the number of the remaining self-governing units is the crux of the ongoing decentralization reform.
On March 13, 2014, the Government Commission on Regional Development expressed its readiness to receive and consider alternative proposals from the public and non-governmental sector.
Civil society organizations submitted to the government a package of proposals prepared by a group of experts from the Public Advisory Committee on self-governance reform. The proposal considers the formation of several municipal units within the remaining municipalities which have resulted from the merger of self-governing cities.
Despite the limited resources and short timeframe, the civil society organizations held consultations with the population, majoritarian MPs and municipal officials in order to submit their proposals and to receive recommendations from the public.
The consultations were held with the citizens of Mtskheta, Gori, Guria, Zugdidi, Jvari, Telavi and Ambrolauri municipalities. The proposed model was supported by the majority. Moreover, specific comments and recommendations have been offered for the successful implementation of this model.
The Gori Municipal Council provided its recommendation to the Government Commission to form five self-governing communities within the remaining settlements of the municipalities that have been left after merging self-governing cities. This indicates that this vision is supported by the local government as well.
The success of the reform depends on the political will of the Government of Georgia to address the issue of territorial optimization in a timely manner.
We call on the Government of Georgia to fulfill pre-election promises declared in the pre-election program, the Government’s local self-governance reform strategy, the transitional provisions of the Organic Law of Georgia “On Local Self-Governance Code” and to consider our proposals and take effective steps to improve communication and cooperation with the population of the local self-governing system.
§ International Center for Civic Culture (ICCC)
§ Open Society Georgia Foundation (OSGF)
§ Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA)
§ Local Democracy Network Center
§ Association “Civitas Georgica”
§ Regional Development Center
§ Effective Governance System and Technological Advancement of Regions
§ Public Movement “Multinational Georgia” (PMMG)
§ Gori Information Center
§ European Initiative – Liberal Academy Tbilisi
§ Civic Integration Foundation
§ Union of self-governing cities
§ Civil Society Institute (CSI)
Non-governmental organization “Sida”
