14/03/2018 (Agence Europe) – In Strasbourg on Wednesday 14 March, the European Parliament passed (by 570 votes to 108 with 25 abstentions) the European Commission’s proposal to offer a third macrofinancial aid package worth €45 billion to Georgia (including €35 million of loans and €10 million of subsidies) to help it cover its external financing needs for 2017-2020. The European Parliament demands, however, that the disbursing of the aid should be suspended or cancelled if the prior conditions are not met (democracy, rule of law, human rights, effectiveness and transparency in public finance and structural reforms) or if the aims and principles of the 2014 association agreement are not respected. The third macrofinancial aid package may be granted in the first six months of this year, following formal adoption by the Council of the EU. (EH)