On March 17th, 2014, the meeting between the non-governmental organizations, the members of the Government Commission on Regional Development and majoritarian MPs of the municipalities was held at Courtyard by Marriott Tbilisi. The goal of the meeting was a discussion surrounding the self-governance reform.
The meeting was attended by more than 50 NGOs.
The meeting was held due to the civil society response to the statement issued on March 13th, 2014 by the Government Commission on Regional Development, pursuant to which the Commission expresses its readiness “to overview the opportunity about creation of each local community with each administrative centre, from the settlement on the remained territory after creation of the self-governing cities.”
NGOs consider that the reform has already been undermined by the lack of public involvement, regional self-governance, the introduction of shared taxes and other important elements. Today, however, it becomes obvious that the government is no longer intends to proceed with the optimization process after the separation of self-governing cities.
“We want to underscore that the creation of each local community with each administrative centre, from the settlement on the remained territory after creation of the self-governing cities cannot ensure communication between the local authorities and the population, which should be the major goal of the reform” – says Tinatin Bolqvadze, the Local Democracy Development Program Manager at Open Society Georgia Foundation.
Davit Losaberidze, the Chairman of the Public Advisory Board, noted that “in case of adopting the model proposed by the government nothing will change for the population of rural settlements after the reform; specific local / zonal interests still cannot be considered; a new cultural, economic and social centers cannot be created on areas interrelated according to geography and infrastructure; there will not be conditions required for detecting the local leaders.
NGOs presented their own version of territorial optimization around the self-governing units. The best possible balance between democracy and economic opportunities is given in this version. NGOs have two major demands:
1. The Government should discuss the administrative – territorial reform prepared by non-governmental organizations;
2. Maximum involvement of non-governmental organizations and the public in discussions on territorial planning should be ensured.
NGOs have raised questions about whether the Government is consistent in implementation of the reform.
The First Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure, Tengiz Shergelashvili said that the meeting process with the population will be launched tomorrow and that the views expressed by the population will be crucial and considered during the implementation of the reform.
