Georgia – annual report 2022

Details
Published: September 4, 2023
Georgian lawyers visit the Labour Court in Bonn.
Georgian lawyers visit the Labour Court in Bonn.

Strategic Framework

Legal Policy Starting Point

Prompted by Russia’s war of aggression on Ukraine, the Georgian government brought forward its application for EU membership – originally scheduled for 2024 – a few days after Ukraine and at the same time as the Republic of Moldova and submitted a corresponding application on 3 March 2022. It was reviewed by the European Commission, but the decision of the European Council on 23 June 2022 offered Georgia merely the prospect of accession. In its opinion (“Avis”) on potential negotiations, the European Commission formulated an assessment with twelve points and recommended their implementation by Georgia. These include, for example, bipartisan adoption and implementation of an effective judicial reform and ensuring a transparent and independent judiciary. The European Commission also calls for comprehensive reform of the Judicial Council, as well as a commitment to de-oligarchisation and strengthening the protection of human rights.

Provisional denial of candidate status provoked frustration and demonstrations among the largely pro-European population in Georgia. The demonstrators accused the government of failing to pursue the EU accession process with the necessary will to engage in the reform process and of being largely responsible for the country’s current situation.

Overall Concept

Cooperation between IRZ and its partner institutions in Georgia prioritised both civil and commercial law as well as criminal law in 2022. Despite the fraught domestic and foreign policy situation, the Georgian Ministry of Justice and the Federal Ministry of Justice agreed on a multi-year work programme until 2025, which primarily envisages joint measures around penitentiary law and in the area of international cooperation in matters of civil and criminal law. In addition, IRZ supports professional associations within civil and commercial law. Two regular publications and a German-Georgian ­online criminal law glossary additionally promote bilateral exchange between academics in Georgia and Germany.

Focus of Activity in 2022

Civil and Commercial Law

  • Advice for the Supreme Court of Georgia on issues of civil law from a German expert
  • Workshop for lawyers on “Legal case resolution methodology”
  • Workshop for judicial assistants of the Supreme Court on the topic of “Judicial application of the law to facts”
  • Round table discussion on the issue of “Commercial litigation before the chamber of commercial matters” with the Georgian Bar Association in cooperation with the German Federal Bar 
  • Study trip by Georgian lawyers to Bonn and Düsseldorf on various issues of civil law
  • Publications of the German-Georgian Journal of Comparative Law (DGZR)

Public Law

  • Online lecture on “European Law” as part of a moot court on European law, in cooperation with the Georgian Ministry of Justice Training Centre

Criminal and Penitentiary Law

  • Publication of the German-Georgian Journal of Criminal Law (DGStZ)
  • Publication of a digital German-Georgian criminal law glossary
  • Study trip to Bonn by Georgian lawyers on issues of criminal law

Outlook

The joint work programme for 2022 to 2025 between the Georgian Ministry of Justice and the Federal Ministry of Justice, as well as the twelve ­recommendations of the European Commission, are essential aspects of the IRZ work in Georgia. In completing its tasks, IRZ builds on its long-standing partnerships with the Ministry of Justice, the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs, the Georgian Bar Association and the Supreme Court and will engage in new undertakings with civil society organisations to add meaningfully to this group.

Please find the Annual Report 2022 here: Media centre – Annual reports.