Georgia - Achievements
According to the European Commission’s Progress Report Georgia, good progress has been achieved in the reform of the criminal justice sector and in the fight against corruption.
New legislation was enacted in 2007 in the areas of democracy, the functioning of state and local administrative bodies, human rights and fundamental freedoms, including media. However the events at the end of 2007, including the introduction of the state of emergency, have demonstrated the need for a proper implementation of this legislation.
Economic growth in 2007 has been very strong, at about 12%, and positive changes have been recorded in business climate.
Georgia is positioning itself as a key transit country for the transport of Caspian energy resources to the EU. The full operation of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and the first gas flows through the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline are significant in this context.
Through the diplomatic activity of its Special Representative for the Southern Caucasus, the EU actively supports the peaceful resolution of Georgia’s internal conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The Commission is also the largest international donor in both conflict zones and programmes are designed to benefit both communities.
In Abkhazia, €10 million of Community assistance has been provided for rehabilitation of the Enguri hydro-power complex. A €4 million package has supported an infrastructure rehabilitation programme, the development of local economic activities and confidence-building measures involving non-governmental organisations (NGOs). In South Ossetia, a €2.5 million programme (part of a €7.5m package) of infrastructure and shelter projects was completed in 2007.
EU assistance for the reform of the Georgian Border police is underway with already some degree of success. Work is also starting on a regional programme for the implementation of integrated border management systems in Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Through the Food Security Programme (€91 million of EU funds channelled into the national state budget since 1996) the Commission has successfully provided an impetus for key reforms in sectors that directly impact on poverty reduction and public expenditure management.
