Brussels, 27/02/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 26 February, European Council President Donald Tusk called on Georgia for considerable progress in its European reform programme - particularly in the sphere of justice.
“The time has come for Georgia to make considerable progress in its reform programme in essential spheres such as the rule of law and its judicial system, including the creation of an independent prosecutor's office”, Tusk stated at a press conference with Georgia's Prime minister Irakli Garibashvili. Tusk also urged progress on strengthening a political climate of respect and dialogue between parties. The European Union has expressed its concern on several occasions regarding the risk of selective justice in Georgia.
Tusk and Garibashvili also discussed visa liberalisation. “We are committed to fulfilling all the criteria of the action plan on visa liberalisation. I hope that the European Commission will make a positive assessment of the accomplishment and make a recommendation” for a visa-free regime for short stays, Garibashvili stated.
He said he wanted the EU to strengthen its involvement with Georgia, and the region more broadly, which is of “enormous importance” for Georgia. In Garibashvili's opinion, the EU has a “vital” role to play in Georgia, particularly in offering strong support for his country's territorial integrity. He stated that the so-called treaties signed between the separatist regions and Moscow “confirmed [Russia's] intention of gradually annexing these parts of Georgia”.
Tusk stated that the EU continued to follow closely the implications of the treaty signed in November between the de facto authorities of Abkhazia and Russia (see EUROPE 11204). Underlining that the EU was committed to resolving the conflicts and to Georgia's territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders, Tusk encouraged Garibashvili to enter into contact with the authorities of these separatist regions and to pursue an approach of both non-recognition and engagement. (Camille-Cerise Gessant)