According to the Ambassador of the European Union to Georgia Pawel Herczynski the European Union expects a systemic approach from Georgia regarding the implementation of the de-oligarchization clause.
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“The 12 priorities that Georgia received last year were agreed upon at the highest level by the EU leadership. So, clearly, there is no possibility this priority can be removed. De-oligarchization is a 5th priority, and a very important one. In Georgia and other post-Soviet countries, we come across a challenge of the vested influence of private interests on business, politics, and public life. This is an issue in Georgia and this issue needs to be resolved. How to resolve if for Georgians to decide for themselves,” the Ambassador told journalists today.
According to the official, the Venice Commission stated clearly that the draft law initiated by the ruling party of the Georgian Dream is not the right approach and a lot of risks are involved.
“This is why we would expect a systemic approach, as stated by the Venice Commission, and systemic approach means many different things that should be done to strengthen the state institutions of Georgia. This is about accountability, this is about transparency, this is about financing of political campaigns, this is about financing of elections, this is about media freedom, this is about justice reform, this is about tackling high corruption.
So, the whole environment should be created in order not to allow rich people to have influence on public and political life.
We are here, as the European Union, to help with our expertise, with our experts, whatever will be the path chosen by political elites in Georgia”, stated the EU ambassador.
On June 13, the Parliament adopted the draft law “On De-oligarchization” with 81 votes against 2 on the second reading. The ruling party ignored the final opinion published a day earlier by the Venice Commission, which stated that this law is neither democratic nor an effective answer to the problem of oligarchization. According to the commission's assessment, the possible arbitrary application of the law's provisions could seriously threaten the rule of law and political pluralism and not do much for countering oligarchic influence.
“A personalized de-oligarchisation law like the one being assessed risks becoming a dangerous tool in the hands of those in power to harass political opponents…the Venice Commission recommends pursuing the “systemic” approach,” writes the Commission in its final opinion and recommends against adopting this law.
Yesterday, the Chairman of Georgian Dream Irakli Kobakhidze said they will keep pushing for this law on the third hearing. According to Kobakhidze, if the European Commission removes the de-oligarchization clause from the 12 priorities, they will not proceed with enacting this law. This law is scheduled to enter force on March 1, 2024.
