MEPs to discuss changes in report related to Georgia’s implementation of the Association Agreement with the EU

Today, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament will consider a report related to Georgia’s implementation of the Association Agreement with the EU. Several changes have been made to the text. In particular, MEPs Anna Fotyga, Jacek Sariush-Wolski and Asita Kanko prepared an amendment to the European Parliament resolution, which expresses concern about existing reports that “Russian individuals and organizations are allegedly using Georgia to circumvent Western sanctions.”

“The Committee calls on EU institutions to study these reports, including a report by Ukraine’s National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption on Bidzina Ivanishvili’s ties to Russia. If these reports are confirmed, he calls for the imposition of personal sanctions against him and his close allies, ”the text says.

Another amendment, prepared by the same MEPs, states that it is necessary to eradicate the excessive influence of the oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili.

“Stresses the need to eradicate the excessive influence of the oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili in economic, political and public life as one of the priorities identified by the commission, which must be resolved before Georgia is granted [статуса кандидата]”.

In addition, the text of the amendment prepared by MEPs Andrius Kubilius and Rasa Yuknevicienė notes that it is necessary to “eliminate the excessive influence of the interests of Georgia’s only oligarch, Bidzina Ivanishvili.”

“We emphasize the need to eliminate the excessive influence of the interests of the only oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili in the politics, economy and public life of Georgia, as one of the priorities identified by the commission, which must be resolved before Georgia is granted candidate status,” the text of the change says.

In addition, a change drafted by Miriam Lexmann, Vladimir Bilchik, Michael Haller, Rasa Yuknevicienė and Andrius Kubilius calls on the EU Council and democratic partners to consider imposing personal sanctions against Ivanishvili due to his role in deteriorating the political process.

“Reiterates its concern about the destructive role of the sole oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili in the politics and economy of Georgia and the level of control he exercises over the government and its decisions, including the politically motivated persecution of journalists and political opponents; deeply concerned about Ivanishvili’s revealed personal and business ties with the Kremlin, which determine the position of the current government of Georgia regarding sanctions against Russia; calls on the Council and democratic partners to consider imposing personal sanctions against Ivanishvili because of his role in the deterioration of the political process,” the text says.