On Tuesday 20 February, the European Parliament's international trade committee gave its approval (30 votes in favour, 3 against with 2 abstentions) to the European Commission's proposal aiming to offer a third package of macro financial assistance for €45 million to Georgia (€35 million in loans and €10 million in subsidies) to help it cover its needs for external financing for the 2017-2020 period.
In the draft resolution put together by Hannu Takkula (ALDE, Finland), the MEPs require regular monitoring by the Commission and the European External Action Service to ensure that the preconditions are respected (democracy, the rule of law and human rights, the effectiveness and transparency of public financing and structural reforms) and that results are obtained.
The Commission is expected to suspend or temporarily cancel the disbursement if these conditions are not fulfilled or the objectives and principles of the association agreement of 2014 are not respected.
This third package of macro financial aid could be granted in the first half of 2018, following the confirmation vote by the European Parliament and the formal adoption by the EU Council. (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)