The draft Resolution on Condemnation of Actions by Russian Federation to Annexation of Occupied Territories of Georgia was introduced by the Faction “European Georgia” MP, Giorgi Kandelaki. The draft is the initiative of Minority Factions: European Georgia; Movement for Freedom – European Georgia, and Movement for Freedom – Regions. The draft condemns actions made by Russian Federation directed to occupation of Georgian territory and annexation of occupied regions. The draft calls on the international community to further ensure protection of territorial integrity of Georgia and internationally recognized borders of the country and further support NATO integration of Georgia and calls on Georgian Government to condemn actions made by Russian Federation through enactment of various legal, political, humanitarian and other leverages in international organizations.
MPs expressed uniform position that the Parliament shall express its position regarding the ongoing processes on occupied territories, though the Committee did not support the draft in current edition due to the record made in regards with the Government. The text fails to properly reflect reality the Committee stated, and is not result-oriented. The context thereof is not based on objective information.
“The Parliament will adopt the uniform political document – Resolution to condemn actions made by Russia. The hereof draft cannot be principally shared as it fails to recognize the activity made by the Government. It does not correspond to reality and hence, the Committee does not support it. Much is done as by the executive so by the legislative authority to actively and unilaterally express the position supporting sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia on the highest level by partners. Georgian diplomacy actively strives to maintain Georgia issue into the international agenda”, - the Chair stated.
The Committee will develop the alternative version clearly providing the positions of the Parliament in regards with aggressive actions of Russian Federation aiming at annexation.
The Committee considered the Protocol on Accession of Georgia to the Constituent Agreement of Energy Union signed on October 14, 2016, introduced by the Deputy-Energy Minister, Mariam Valishvili.
According to her, the Energy Union aims at creation of the investment milieu in view of uninterrupted supply of gas and electricity for infrastructure in various countries; arrangement of uniform regulatory area in energy network; increase of safety of supply through increased investments and developed cooperation mechanisms; improvement of environment and facilitation to energy efficiency measures and application of renewable energy.
The frame agreement concludes 25 legislative directives and regulations on gas, electricity, supply safety, renewable energy, oil, energy efficiency etc. Georgia, on the one hand between EU and European Nuclear Energy Unions and Member states and on the other hand under EUAA, has assumed harmonization of legislation on energy with EU standards.
The Agreement allows Georgia becoming the member of European Energy Union. In mid-term perspective, the Energy Union aims at creation of regional integrated energy base allowing trans-border trading and providing energy supply taking climate change and social aspects into account. Accession to Energy Union and application of respective legislative frame will accelerate:
- Formation of modern and competitive energy sector;
- Financial sustainability and increased rights of consumers;
- Harmonization of legislation with EU Environmental Law;
- Inflow of investments in energy sector.
Membership of Georgia in Energy Union will facilitate to implementation of EUAA obligations and establishment of European energy legislation will facilitate to creation of regulated and stable investment milieu, improvement of sector structure, increase of professional and institutional capacities and long-term development prospects.
The Committee supported the draft.
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A delegation from the committee for European Union affairs of the German Bundestag will visit Georgia from May 2nd to 5th, 2023. Members of the delegation are: Christian Petry (SPD, Head of delegation), Ralph Brinkhaus (CDU/CSU), Michael Sacher (BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN), Thomas Hacker (FDP) and Dr. Harald Weyel (AfD).
During the visit, meetings are planned with the Minister of Justice, H.E. Rati Bregadze, the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, H.E. Levan Davitashvili, and Deputy Foreign Minister, H.E. Teimuraz Janjalia.
Furthermore, the delegation will hold talks with the Speaker of the Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili and the chairmen of several committees of the Georgian Parliament.
The program is completed by exchanges with representatives of civil society, the media, business and cultural institutions.
As Georgia submitted an application for membership to the European Union in March 2022 and has had the prospect of joining the EU since June 2022, the talks will concern necessary reforms and the structure of relations and cooperation between Georgia and the EU.
Against the background of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, the focus will also be on coordinating questions of foreign and security policy, as well as on the regional effects of the war and geopolitical aspects.
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EU Foreign Affairs Council: Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia in focus
The EU Foreign Affairs Council took place on 24 April, with the situation in Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova as priority topics.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba addressed the EU ministers via video conference, and briefed them about the latest developments on the ground and Ukraine’s military priorities and needs, especially in terms of ammunition and missiles.
EU High Representative Josep Borrell highlighted that in total the EU and its member states have already facilitated the delivery to Ukraine of over €13 billion in military support.
He also updated ministers on EU military support to Ukraine in the context of the three-track plan. On track one, the EU adopted an assistance measure under the European Peace Facility worth €1 billion to address Ukraine’s most immediate needs. EU member states are also finalising work on track two, to facilitate joint procurement. Lastly, the European Commission will soon present concrete proposals on how to ramp up the European defence production capacity under track three.
Ministers were also informed about the activities of the EU Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine), which has already exceeded its initial target by training over 16,000 Ukrainian soldiers. The EU aims to train a total of 30,000 soldiers by the end of 2023.
EU Foreign Ministers also held an informal exchange with the Georgian Foreign Minister, Ilia Darchiashvili, and confirmed that Georgia has made significant progress in many key reforms. They also highlighted that rule of law, human rights, media, civil society and independent state institutions are important elements for each country aspiring to join the EU.
Concerning Moldova, the Foreign Affairs Council established a new civilian EU CSDP partnership mission (EUPM Moldova), reached a broad agreement on a new framework for sanctions against those who destabilise the country, and on allocating further €40 million coming from the European Peace Facility to support Moldova’s defence capabilities.
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EU celebrates family connections: photo contest winners announced at awards gala in Tbilisi
The six winners of the Family Connections photo contest have been announced at a gala awards event in Tbilisi on 31 March. Winners from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine take home a prize of €1,000 each.
The EUNEIGHBOURS EAST – FOTOFESTIWAL photo contest, funded by the European Union, invited professional photographers from the six Eastern Partnership countries to enter a set of photographs around the theme of Family Connections.
From a total of more than 400 entries, a team of five top international judges drew up a shortlist of three photographers from each country, who were all invited to the awards ceremony at the Tbilisi Photography & Multimedia Museum, where their photo stories were projected in an interactive display.
The gala awards event was hosted by Pawel Herczynski, Ambassador of the European Union to Georgia, and Nestan Nizharadze, the co-founder of Tbilisi Photography & Multimedia Museum, and attended by local celebrities, and media, bloggers and influencers from across the region.
Presenting the awards, Ambassador Pawel Herczynski said: “Through this photo contest, we are proud to showcase the EU’s commitment to fostering cultural exchange and promoting the power of photography as a tool for reflection and change. The theme of Family and family connections highlight the importance of our shared values and the role Family plays in shaping our societies. Congratulations to all the photographers for their creative and inspiring interpretations.”
The photo competition sought personal interpretations around the theme of ‘family connections’: how does family connect us to our roots, culture, traditions, attitudes and future? Which connections define a family and make us belong? How do these connections adapt to changing worlds, technology, conflict, love and loss?
The winning entries approached these themes from a wide range of personal approaches.
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WHO, EU and US donate ambulances to Ukraine to cover health needs during the war
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The donation includes 20 ambulances equipped with a stretcher and first aid equipment. They are intended for the non-critical transportation of patients. Another 13 ambulances, equipped with patient ventilators, oxygen supply, IV pumps, suction pumps, stretchers, medication bags, will allow for the transportation of seriously injured patients to health facilities.
The ambulances will be handed over to hospitals and emergency centres throughout the country, with a particular focus on eastern Ukraine.
“It is one of our top priorities to support the Ukrainian healthcare system, which has come under extreme pressure since the start of the war,” said Janez Lenarčič, European Commissioner for Crisis Management. “We are working with partners like WHO to ensure that medical professionals have the means and equipment to reach people in urgent need of medical assistance. These ambulances will save lives across the country, including in hard-to-reach areas.”
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EU disburses another €1.5 billion in macro-financial assistance to Ukraine
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced today that the European Union has disbursed another €1.5 billion in macro-financial assistance to Ukraine.
“Our support helps keep Ukraine running, while defending itself,” wrote von der Leyen on Twitter. “And puts Ukraine firmly on its EU path by supporting reforms – good governance and financial stability, for example.”
On 17 January, the European Union disbursed the first €3 billion of the €18 billion of promised macro-financial assistance agreed in December 2022.
This emergency assistance aims to provide short-term financial relief, financing Ukraine’s immediate needs, rehabilitation of critical infrastructure and initial support towards sustainable post-war reconstruction, with a view to supporting Ukraine on its path towards European integration. The loans will have a 10-year grace period.
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