WRITTEN QUESTION E-1512/02

by Olivier Dupuis (NI) to the Commission

(29 May 2002)

Subject: Political and institutional situation in Georgia

On 29 April 2002, the Citizens' Union of Georgia (CUG) was forbidden by a Tbilisi court from participating in the country's first municipal elections, which will take place on 2 June 2002. The decision was taken on the basis of a petition submitted by four citizens, without the party officials having been heard by the court. Although it should have been sent directly to the Central Electoral Committee, the decision was not sent until 3 May, which prevented the party officials from lodging an appeal with the court before 7 May, the deadline for the submission of lists of candidates for the elections. More seriously, the Supreme Court, with which Mr Zurab Zhvania, leader of the Citizens' Union of Georgia, had lodged the appeal, deliberately delayed proceedings, thereby making it impossible for the lists of candidates to be presented within the time allowed. Moreover, the Central Electoral Committee repealed the article of the electoral law providing for the presence of representatives of the various parties in the electoral committees of the various districts. Finally, there have been numerous cases of CUG members in the Central Electoral Committee being subjected to threats and intimidation.

What political initiatives and diplomatic steps has the Commission taken, or does it intend to take, before the elections on 2 June so as to persuade the Georgian authorities to reconsider this very serious decision and ensure full compliance with the electoral laws in force? More generally, does not the Commission believe that it is high time for the EU to move from occasional criticism of corruption to the drawing up of a policy based on the definition of a clear prospect for Georgia's accession to the EU as the foundation for a policy of ambitious reforms in that country?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(25 June 2002)

The Commission shares concerns about insufficient progress with democratic reform in Georgia. The way the local elections were conducted last 2 June 2002 was a worrying confirmation of a long-standing pattern. In particular, it was disappointing that commitments to introduce electoral reforms, undertaken following the Presidential elections in 2000, were not respected.

The Commission takes every possible opportunity to express its concerns to the Georgian authorities, including in the framework of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. The last occasion was during the visit of President Shevardnadze to Brussels last March. The Commission will continue to do so on the occasion of the forthcoming EU-Georgia Cooperation Committee on 26 June 2002 which will prepare for the next EU-Georgia Cooperation Council on 1 October 2002.

The Commission already(1) had the opportunity to explain why it considers that there is no realistic prospect of Georgia's accession to the EU in present circumstances. The priority today should be to resolve the two internal conflicts, as well as to implement the reform agenda and to maximise the potential offered by the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. The Commission shall continue to support Georgia through cooperation and assistance programmes and with political support.

(1) Reply to oral question H-0372/02 by the Honourable Member, written reply, June 2002.