Georgian Dream taking all necessary steps to meet EU commitments, says Georgian Parliament official

Archil Gorduladze, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee, on Thursday said the ruling Georgian Dream party was fully committed to ensuring that all obligations undertaken through the bilateral agreement between Georgia and the European Union were met, including those related to visa liberalisation.

In his interview with Imedi TV, Gorduladze noted that “there is not a single aspect of the visa liberalisation process where the ruling team has failed to take steps’.

“Georgia is required every year to present a report covering a wide range of issues - from migration statistics to developments within the country, or how the legislative framework and readmission processes are functioning in practice. Georgia fully complies with its obligations in the area of readmission, and there are no other issues linked to visa liberalization where Georgian Dream has not acted accordingly. We have also carried out legislative changes on several occasions”, the Parliament official said.

He further emphasised that Georgia exercises strict border control.

“Anyone traveling to the Schengen Zone is thoroughly checked by our law enforcement representatives at the border - whether they have a return ticket, accommodation booking, sufficient funds, and the purpose of their travel. This is done because we take responsibility to ensure that migration numbers from Georgia to EU countries do not increase”, he continued.

Addressing criticisms from some EU bureaucrats, Gorduladze argued that certain issues have been misused as a form of political blackmail.

“Everyone knows very well that the Georgian people - and by that, I mean the overwhelming majority of our citizens regardless of religious affiliation - unanimously agree that the Law on Family Values and the Protection of Minors is of vital importance for our country. This was a sovereign decision taken by a sovereign state”, he continued.

Brussels has demanded that Georgia repeal the laws on transparency and the protection of family values, threatening to suspend visa liberalisation if it does not comply. The deadline for fulfilling the conditions set by the European Union expired on August 31.

The European Commission has received a detailed letter from the Georgian Government outlining the steps taken toward European integration. The document also emphasises that the Government remains ready for constructive dialogue with the Commission.