EU Integration
Goal:
EPF’s Towards European Integration program promotes civic participation in the process of Georgia’s integration into the European Union (EU). The program seeks to increase public awareness of EU institutions and Georgia’s European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) commitments, an ideal platform for collaboration among civil society, the government and EU agencies in Georgia’s development. Activities in this program build consensus on ENP Action Plan (AP) implementation issues among different stakeholders, facilitate improved policy and compliance with ENP commitments and work to create the conditions for a new association agreement (AA) and a deep and free trade agreement (FTA) with the EU.
Impact:
In 2006, EPF and other leading Georgian CSOs established a coalition to monitor the implementation of the ENP AP for Georgia. The coalition addresses a number of cross-cutting issues, ranging from conflict resolution through media development to energy security. The coalition publishes information via dedicated e-bulletins that present policy papers on issues such as waste management, vocational education and food standards and safety. Through the coalition, research grants have been awarded to CSOs and independent experts to develop policies and recommendations on specific issues, strengthening ties among the stakeholders on both the national and regional level.
After the EU initiated the Eastern Partnership in early 2008, EPF focused on Georgia’s economic convergence with EU policies and regulations related to FTA negotiations with the EU. EPF organized roundtables and expert panels with broad stakeholder participation, primarily addressing product/food safety and quality management and corresponding infrastructure and regulations. EPF succeeded in involving CSOs and business associations in the preparation of recommendations to streamline the policy and regulatory reforms.
In 2009, EPF began supporting Dairy Georgia, an association of dairy producers, in promoting the application of modern food safety standards. The association created a food safety expert panel, published a catalogue containing food producers’ profiles and available quality management systems and advocated for proper enforcement of the food safety legislation in the country via media outlets and meetings with the government and legislators. Dairy Georgia also trains food-related businesses in applying food production safety systems, like that of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP).
With EPF funding, Association Studio Re prepared 10 TV programs on specific topics of European integration that were broadcast on Maestro TV and 20 regional TV channels throughout the country. (Talk shows are available in Georgian, Russian and English at www.studiore.org.) Studio Re simultaneously trained 25 journalists from different media outlets on the ENP and EaP.
In August 2009, EPF’s Caucasus Research Resource Center conducted a baseline survey of Georgian public opinion on the EU and European integration. According to the study, Georgians have limited awareness of EU-Georgia cooperation issues, but high expectations for the benefits of EU integration.
Plans:
EPF is an active member of the EaP Civil Society Forum, which was endorsed by the European Commission in 2009 to increase the involvement of CSOs in defining EU integration policies. Since 2010, EPF assumed the responsibility for initiating a regional study on the state of social dialogue within the six EaP countries. Further, the focus will be shifted to consumer awareness education programs to drive public opinion in favor of policy measures needed for market surveillance of food produced and imported in Georgia. Furthermore, EPF will foster collaboration with the local authorities in educating youth about the EU, vocational training and employment opportunities.
Televised Documentaries
The media component of EPF’s European Neighborhood Policy Civic Dialogue Project includes the development of four televised documentaries. You can watch these documentaries by following the links below:
The European Neighborhood Policy (ENP)
Related Documents
Mr. Robert Liddell's speech (22.7 KBytes)Presentations of the speakers of the forum Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) with the EU: Food Safety-Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (December 14, 2009)
GDCI-Presentation (1.24 MBytes)Overview of EU Food Safety Requirements 2009 (963.5 KBytes)SPS presentation-Revenue Service (2.45 MBytes)USAID Food Safety Deep Dialogue-TBCS (549 KBytes)ENP Action Plan
Georgia ENP Action Plan (102.11 KBytes)Civil Society on ENP Action Plan for Georgia 2007-2009 (74.79 KBytes)CASE Network Reports (1.63 MBytes)Country Reports
Georgia Country Report 2005 (151.49 KBytes)PROGRESS REPORT: Georgia ENP Policy Implementation in 2007 (82.84 KBytes)Policy Papers
ENP Survey (289.32 KBytes)Newsletters
EPF’s third newsletter on pending EU-Georgia Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (195.75 KBytes)Newsletter on EU-Georgia Free Trade Agreement (301.09 KBytes)ENP and Georgia Bulletin Aug-Sep 2008 Issue # 20-21 (571.18 KBytes)Newsletter of the forum -Eastern Partnership: Challenges and Opportunities (23.11.2009, ENG) (194.12 KBytes)Newsletter of the forum-EU-Georgia Free Trade Agreement: Technical Barriers to Trade (20.11.2009, ENG) (178.14 KBytes)
2010 Small Grants Competition to Empower Citizens through Participatory Civic Monitoring and Advocacy
The winners of the 2010 competition for small grants
Grant Competition: Open Door
The winners of the grant 2010 Grant Competition
