Presentation of Website http://eapnationalplatform.ge in Europe House

Mariam Khurtsidze

The web site http://eapnationalplatform.ge is a joint effort of Georgian Civil Society Organizations, created for exchange of information, learning about best practices, contacts and updates of the EaP. The web site is administrated by the Human Rights Center (HRIDC).

Human Rights Center held a presentation of civil society national platform of Georgia in Europe House on December 19th. The executive director of Human Rights Center Ucha Nanuashvili led the presentation. Deputy Minister on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Tamar Beruchashvili addressed the audience. The ambassador of Estonia in Georgia Thomas Luk talked about the significance of eastern partnership and national platform.

On May 7th of 2009 EU offered new form of cooperation to six countries of eastern Europe – Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine – eastern partnership. The goals of the new initiative are: promoting democracy and effective governance, social and economic development, sector reforms, environment protection, strengthening energy sector and encouraging people to people contacts.

Civil society forum of eastern partnership was created by the initiative of European Commission. Civil society forum is an active forum which has more than 200 members and its functioning is controlled by a committee of 17 people. The members of civil society organizations of Georgia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Moldova, Armenia and Ukraine are members of the forum; representatives of EU member states and the representatives of international NGOs are part of the forum.

In order to coordinate the civil society forum the national platform is created in each state. National platform will promote the multilateral (relations between eastern partner countries) as well as bilateral (EU-Georgia) cooperation.

Local NGOs registered in Georgia and international NGOs working in partner countries including the Trade Unions comprise the national platform.

Eastern partnership promotes European integration of six countries of Eastern Europe. Its work is oriented on multilateral and bilateral relations. It covers four thematic platform and several special initiatives.

National platform consists of four working groups: 1) Democracy, Human rights, Good governance and Stability 2) Economic Integration and convergence with the EU Policies 3) Environment, climate change and energy security Introduction 4) Contacts between People

Ucha Nanuashvili, executive director of the Human Rights Center coordinates the first working group of the EU Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum.

The main goals of eastern partnership: political and economic integration of partner countries, promotion of stability and effective governance, promotion of partnership between the civil sector and government, promotion of sector reform and environment protection.

According to eastern partnership declaration of Council of Europe of 2009, EU is increasing the financial support for fulfillment of eastern partnership goals.