Bjorn Berge, Deputy Secretary General of Council of Europe, and Lasha Darsalia – First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia – jointly launched today the Council of Europe Action Plan for Georgia from 2024-2027 in Tbilisi. The new Action Plan builds on the previous year’s work and aims to support Georgia in its efforts to fulfill its obligations as a member state of the Council of Europe.
Bjorn Berge – Deputy Secretary General of Council of Europe – stressed that the Action Plan would be based on what has been achieved. “It builds upon the latest evaluations, reports and recommendations of the Council of Europe as well as Reykjavik Declaration, which was agreed by Europe’s Leaders at our Summit of State and Government in May last year. But most importantly, it is based on the priorities of Georgia.”
The Action Plan was developed in close collaboration with the Georgian authorities and aims to address reform priorities, and to help introduce legislative changes to bring Georgia closer to Council of Europe Standards and European Union Integration requirements.
The Action Plan builds upon the CoE’s latest evaluations and monitoring reports, as well as the Reykjavik Declaration, which was agreed by Europe’s leaders in May last year.
Lasha Darsalia was the host of the event and noted that: “I wish to thank the Council of Europe sincerely for its fruitful cooperation and support.” Their contribution to the implementation of democratic reforms in Georgia is immeasurable. It is therefore important to stress the importance of our collaboration today, at this crucial stage of Georgia’s European Union integration.
The First Deputy Minister said, “In conclusion, We express our willingness to continue cooperating with the Council of Europe, and all partners, civil society included, in order implement the action plan, and to further enhance the protection of the human rights, democracy, and the rule of the law in Georgia.”
The Action Plan was developed in close collaboration with the Georgian authorities and aims to address reform priorities, and to help introduce legislative changes to bring Georgia closer to CoE and EU integration requirements.
In the Action Plan, both the Council of Europe (CE) and the Georgian authorities agreed to implement reforms jointly, through programmes of co-operation, aiming to: enhance the implementation of European Convention on Human Rights at national level; align national legislation and practices of anti-discrimination to European standards; promote gender equality; enhance the independence and accountability of judicial systems; improve the electoral legislation, and practice.
The New Action Plan for Georgia was launched in the same year that the Council of Europe celebrated its 75th Anniversary and Georgia celebrated its 25th Anniversary of becoming the 41st nation on the continent to join Europe’s leading human-rights organisation.
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