Brussels, 13/11/2006 (Agence Europe) - Socialist MEPs have urged the Georgian government to increase their efforts to reform the judicial system. Reforms have been tarnished by erosion of the judiciary's independence, said Austrian Hannes Swoboda and Jan Marinus Wiersma of the Netherlands after a seminar held in the EP in Brussels on 9 November. They called on Georgia to apply effectively the recommendations made by the EU in June (see EUROPE 9212). “Georgia is one of the most enlightened countries in the region. But it must take transparency and the separation of powers seriously. The Georgian government has to ensure that the judiciary is protected from political pressure,” said Mr Wiersma. Former Georgian Supreme Court judge Tamara Laliashvili, who was dismissed from her position, said that, in her country, judges at all levels now found themselves totally dependent on those in power. She went on to say that the mechanisms that protected judges from political interference had all but disappeared. “We fundamentally support Georgia, which finds itself in a difficult position on many counts. But that support also brings with it a responsibility to point out weaknesses. The rule of law should be a priority in EU relations with Georgia,” added Mr Swoboda. The MEPs will raise this issue with Georgian President Mikhail Sakaashvili when he attends this week's session in Strasbourg. (bc)