EU supports new services for municipal data collection
With the support of the EU and Denmark, and in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the National Statistics Office of Georgia (GEOSTAT) has developed a specialised webpage regions.geostat.ge integrated into its public website, offering information on 64 Georgian municipalities.
The platform tracks economic, demographic and social dynamics across 82 indicators, with 52 indicators provided by Georgia’s public agencies, and the rest by GEOSTAT through statistical surveys.
The project was developed with the aim of improving municipal data collection, systematising already available statistical information, defining and collecting new statistical indicators, and making sub-national statistics easily accessible to the public.
“The EU cares deeply about further developing the regions of Georgia to make sure that the whole population has access to opportunities and services. The foundation of this is clear and reliable data,” said Colombe de Mercey from the EU Delegation to Georgia. “The new GEOSTAT platform will help policy-makers and local authorities to make well-informed decisions for the people living in their regions.”
UNDP’s assistance to Georgia’s National Statistics Office, GEOSTAT, is supported by the EU-funded programme EU for Integrated Territorial Development (EU4ITD) promoting balanced territorial development and improved living standards in Georgia’s regions,
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Georgia: EU provides Emergency Management Service with equipment for rescue operations
At the beginning of December, the EU Delegation in Georgia handed over equipment for rescue operations to the Emergency Management Service (EMS) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia (MIA).
EMS received seven high-mobility vehicles, three all-terrain vehicles, three drones, 40 sets of skis and ski equipment, and 12 items of victim search equipment.
“We hope the donated equipment and the complementary technical assistance will help EMS to improve its response to emergencies and disasters and better protect the health and lives of people living in Georgia,” Catalin Gherman, Acting Head of Cooperation, EU Delegation to Georgia.
The support was provided by the European Union under its SAFE programme. Total value of the EU support provided to EMS in the framework of the ‘Support to Advancing
The Technical Capacities for Ensuring Human Security’ project, implemented by UNOPS, amounts to US$2.5 million.
From next year, the EU will additionally provide technical assistance to EMS, which will include the development of incident command systems, standard operating procedures and fire safety standards based on best European practices. This will bring the Service closer to the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.
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New Head of EU Delegation assumes his duties in Georgia
The new Head of the EU Delegation to Georgia, Pawel Herczynski, has taken up his duties in Tbilisi.
Before joining the EU Delegation to Georgia, Ambassador Herczynski was a Managing Director for Common Security and Defence Policy and Crisis Response in the European External Action Service in Brussels. His previous postings include serving as Ambassador of Poland to the EU Political and Security Committee in Brussels, Deputy Permanent Representative of Poland to the United Nations in New York, and Deputy Director of the EU Department in the Polish MFA.
In his first message to the Georgian people, the Ambassador said that this new job was an honour and a great responsibility for him.
“My tenure comes at one of the most important moments in EU-Georgia relations. The historic decision by the European Council to grant Georgia the European perspective sets a new reality. Together with my team, I will work tirelessly assisting Georgia on its path to the European Union. It is an enormous privilege to have the chance to contribute to this process,” said Hercynski.
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MEETING OF THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE EU AND THE US EMBASSY WITH THE PARLIAMENTARY POLITICAL GROUPS
The Counsellor of the EU Delegation to Georgia, Julien Crampes and the US Embassy political officers Lana Owens and Evan Elliott held a meeting with the Chair of the Political Group “Citizens”, Alexander Elisashvili; Chair of the PG “Lelo – Partnership for Georgia”, David Usupashvili; Chair of the Faction “United National Movement – Unified Opposition “Unity Makes Strength”, Khatia Dekanoidze, and MP Mikheil Daushvili to discuss the fulfillment of the 12-point recommendations set out by the EU.
“We overviewed the course of the fulfillment of 12 tasks the EU set out for Georgia for the reception of the so desired EU candidate status. We informed the guests about the intensive works in the working groups, the engagement of the opposition in this process and attached particular attention to the judicial reform. We revealed to the diplomats that we are the only party submitting the alternative vision other than the “Georgian Dream” about the judicial reform and stressed its importance”, - A. Elisashvili stated.
According to D. Usupashvili, “speaking about the EU candidate status, the officers of the Embassies expressed their commitment to aiding us in this direction. They asked about the de-polarization processes. I introduced the position of “Lelo” about our intention to actively participate in the Committee and plenary sessions but as to the preparatory stage, working groups etc. the positions shall be reconciled through the open process – at the Committee sittings, where we shall submit our positions”.
“We discussed the fulfillment of the EU recommendations. I introduced our position that we witness the active debates in the Committees and at the sessions about the fulfillment of these 12 recommendations. Besides, we dwelt on the general political situation in Georgia, especially the foreign political course”, - Kh. Dekanoidze commented to the media.
Vakhtang Gomelauri held a meeting with the Head of the EU Delegation to Georgia, and EU Member States
The Minister of Internal Affairs, Vakhtang Gomelauri held a meeting with the Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Georgia, Carl Hartzell, Ambassadors of the EU Member States (EU MSs), as well as the representatives of the EU MSs embassies.
The meeting was attended by the Ambassadors of Austria, Federal Republic of Germany, France, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Kingdom of Sweden and Slovenia. Furthermore, the representatives of the Embassies of Kingdom of Belgium, Bulgaria, Kingdom of Spain, Greece, Hungary and Kingdom of Netherlands participated in the meeting.
During the meeting, parties discussed the upcoming local self-government elections of October 2 and the importance of conducting the election process in a safe and free environment.
Vakhtang Gomelauri stated that the objective of the Ministry of Internal Affairs is to protect the public order and ensure the conduct of elections in a free, democratic and safe environment throughout the country. Accordingly, the Ministry of Internal Affairs is taking all appropriate measures defined by the law with the purpose of ensuring effective response to and prevention of crimes related to the election process.
Vakhtang Gomelauri provided European partners with the detailed information regarding the investigative and operative measures undertaken by the Ministry within the ongoing investigations concerning the events of July 5-6.
At the end of the meeting, the Minister of Internal Affairs expressed appreciation towards the Head of the EU Delegation to Georgia and the representatives of the EU MSs for their active and close cooperation with the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Frontex renews working arrangement with Georgia
Today, Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, renewed its working arrangement with the Ministry of the Internal Affairs of Georgia.
Under the revised arrangement, Frontex and Georgia reaffirmed their commitment to work together in dealing with irregular migration and fighting cross-border crime, implementation of technical assistance projects as well as in exchanging information and best practices in the area of border management and return.
“It was in 2008 – more than a decade ago - that the first Working Arrangement between Frontex and the Georgian authorities was signed. I am confident that the new framework for cooperation will allow us to achieve further progress towards securing borders and addressing common challenges, which call for a coordinated response,” said Frontex’s Executive Director Fabrice Leggeri.
The working arrangement was renewed to reflect the strengthened mandate of Frontex and will lead to a better response to today’s operational needs in the area of border management in full respect of fundamental rights.
Hundreds of Georgian experts have taken part in Frontex-led trainings and capacity building activities such as the Eastern Partnership IBM Capacity Building Project as well as participated in Frontex operational activities as observers.
“I am glad that the working arrangement signed today will serve as a firm legal basis for our future successful cooperation, the positive result of which goes beyond the existing relations of the two agencies and represents an important phase in Georgia-EU cooperation”, said Georgia’s Minister of Internal Affairs Vakhtang Gomelauri.
The document was signed during a virtual ceremony by Frontex’s Executive Director Fabrice Leggeri and Georgia’s Minister of Internal Affairs Vakhtang Gomelauri. The virtual ceremony was also attended by the Director General of DG HOME Monique Pariat, Acting Director-General of DG NEAR Maciej Popowski and Head of the EU Delegation to Georgia H.E. Carl Hartzell.
Press Release of the EU Delegation to Georgia
Head of EU Delegation to Georgia visits energy efficiency projects in Kakheti
During his mission to the region of Kakheti, Georgia, EU Ambassador Carl Hartzell visited two EU-supported energy efficiency projects in Telavi and Shilda. The projects have won international awards for their achievements and have participated in the EU Sustainable Energy Award for the Eastern Partnership.
The environmentally friendly winery in Georgia ShildaWine won the 2019 EU Sustainable Energy Award for the Eastern Partnership. With support from the EU and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, ShildaWine now uses energy-efficient technologies. The company has reduced its electricity consumption by up to 60% and now saves more than €60,000 per year.
The second EU-funded project ‘Biomass energy and energy-efficient technologies' won third place in the 2020 EU Sustainable Energy Award for the Eastern Partnership. The project helped two kindergartens in Telavi switch to energy-efficient biomass heating.
In an interview with BM Media, Carl Hartzell commented:
“The European Union plans to implement many projects in Kakheti in 2020-2021. We are trying to help the region realize the potential it has in different directions. We will try to use the wine industry and the waste generated from it as much as possible to produce energy. Energy efficiency will allow us to use natural resources to give the region more opportunities for heating. I am glad that the Parliament has adopted a law on energy efficiency, which helps us to take our cooperation to a new level. Ultimately, all of this will benefit the environment, the country and the people.”
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European Union launches 2020 EU Prize for Journalism in Georgia
On 3 May, the EU marked World Press Freedom Day in Georgia by launching the 2020 EU Prize for Journalism. This is the ninth edition of the prize, run jointly by the EU Delegation and the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia.
The 2020 EU Prize for Journalism will be awarded in six categories covering print, online and broadcast media. It also includes the Special Prize for Peace Journalism, which is awarded by the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) for conflict-sensitive journalism contributing to confidence building and peace.
Each winner in the six categories will receive €1,500. The winner of the EUMM Special Prize for Peace Journalism will receive a one-month fellowship with the Institute of War and Peace Reporting in London.
The deadline for submission of all entries is 15 December 2020. The application form, rules and submission guidelines are available at www.euprizejournalism.ge
The EU Prize for Journalism was introduced in 2012 to highlight and encourage high-quality media work in Georgia. According to the EU, this is now one of the longest running journalism competitions in the country.
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EU reacts to recent developments in Georgia: “We urge all sides to remain calm”
On 21 June, the EU Delegation to Georgia and the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi made a statement following recent developments in the country.
“We are following very closely events at the Georgian Parliament in Tbilisi this evening,” the statement said. “We recognise the hurt that many people feel today.”
“We urge all sides to remain calm, show restraint and act within the framework of the Constitution at all times,” concluded the statement.
MINISTER OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS GIORGI MGEBRISHVILI OPENED ANNUAL DONOR COORDINATION MEETING
Minister of Internal Affairs Giorgi Mgebrishvili opened annual donor coordination meeting. Minister provided representatives of donor organizations and partner states with detailed information on planned and ongoing projects as well as on progress achieved in the Agency.
“First of all, I would like to thank our partner organizations, especially U.S Embassy and EU delegation in Georgia for greatly contributing to the development of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in various directions. As you know, Euro-Atlantic integration is the government's main foreign policy priority, thus reforms implemented in the Ministry are aimed at moving forward towards international standards. Our goal is to form solid institution that will fulfill its main functions properly: preserve public order and ensure safety, fight crime effectively and make prevention”-stated Minister.
Giorgi Mgebrishvili made special emphasis on the development of the agency on institutional level and on strengthening of investigative and preventive directions.
At the conference employees of International Relations Department have held presentation on implemented projects, needs analysis results of the various MIA departments, defined by short and long term priorities and various international commitments.
Conference was attended by representatives of international and non-governmental organizations, diplomatic missions and relevant agencies of the Georgian government.
