Tbilisi. Appeal of Georgian non-governmental organizations to the European Commission "Georgia awaits the European Commission’s recommendation on granting it EU membership candidate status. We, the undersigned Georgian NGOs, share a common mission: to safeguard and advocate for the interests of Georgian citizens and to promote and instill European democratic values in Georgia. We all share the unwavering choice and the paramount interest of an overwhelming majority of citizens: for Georgia to join the European Union—a place where each citizen can live a dignified life in a peaceful, prosperous, free, and just country.  For these reasons, we have been persistently urging the government to initiate the process of application for Georgia’s EU mebership. Ever since the possibility of EU member candidacy opened up for Georgia, we have dedicated our efforts to urge the Georgian government to meet the 12 recommendations aimed at improving the lives of Georgia’s citizens. We fully acknowledge the current challenges associated with implementing these recommendations. However, imprtantly, against all odds, the European choice remains a steadfast national aspiration, serving as a unifying force within our broad and proactive civil solidarity.  Our pursuit continues to be a better democracy in Georgia, one that matches the aspirations and demands of Georgian citizens, a democracy built on values and principles that currently unite the 27 EU member states. In March 2023, we successfully rallied Georgian society against the looming threat of the “Russian law,” which could have distanced Georgia from the EU. Through our collective efforts, we managed to overturn this law, showcasing the unwavering commitment of the Georgian people to secure their clear choice of a European future for their country.  As Georgian non-governmental organizations, we firmly believe that obtaining candidate EU member state status is not only a significant step towards realizing the European aspirations of Georgians but also a vital means of diminishing Russia’s influence in Georgia—more EU presence translates to less Russian influence in Georgia.  For all the reasons outlined above, we appeal to our steadfast European friends and allies of Georgia, specifically addressing the European Commission. Despite the ongoing challenges that Georgia must address, as you deliver your fair assessment of progress on the 12 priorities, we strongly urge you to recommend to the European Council that they grant Georgia the status of a candidate EU member country in December 2023". More... Source: osgf.ge

The US Agency for International Development publishes the CSO Sustainability Index every year. Most recently the 2022 index has been released. Picture of sustainable development of CSOs, operating in Georgia, can be seen here...

Tbilisi. The sanctions imposed by the U.S. on the Georgian judges, Mikheil Chinchaladze, Levan Murusidze, and Irakli Shengelia; a former judge, Valerian Tsertsvadze; and the former Chief Prosecutor, Otar Partskhaladze, have not been followed by effective steps on the part of the Georgian authorities. On the contrary, since the moment of sanctioning, the authorities have been actively defending the interests of those sanctioned, disregarding the legislation and trying to downplay the negative consequences caused by the sanctions by conducting anti-Western propaganda.  the Georgian authorities are apparently protecting the persons sanctioned by the U.S. Naturally, such an approach causes further damage to the country’s reputation and to the trust of international partners towards the Georgian authorities.  More... Source: Open society Georgia Foundation

On October 15 and 22, in Akhalkalaki and Tbilisi, #IDFI held information meetings within the framework of the project funded by the NATO Public Diplomacy Programs/Division - "Overcoming barriers to fight misinformation among ethnic minorities". The project aims to eliminate the lack of knowledge about NATO in the communities of ethnic minorities living in rural areas of Georgia;  combating the feeling of abandonment by the society and getting to know the security guarantees that Georgia will receive in case of NATO membership;  as well as promoting the resilience of ethnic minority communities against disinformation, raising awareness about NATO and its mission in Georgia. More... Source: Institute for Development of Freedom of Information

Tbilisi. The Civil Society Institute (CSI) and the European Center for Non-Profit Law (ECNL) jointly organized a public hybrid conference in Tbilisi on October 10th. The event was inaugurated by Mr. Nicholas Cendrowicz, the head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Georgia. Mr. Cendrowicz emphasized the vital importance of an active civil society in the nation's efforts to align itself with European values and standards. He underlined the pivotal role of civic space in Georgia's journey towards the European Union. The attendees were also addressed by the director of the Civil Society Institute and CSO Meter Project Director at the European Center for Not-for-Profit Law. The conference featured insightful panel discussions, with the first session highlighting experiences and challenges faced by representatives from Eastern Partnership countries. These discussions shed light on the diverse situations in these nations and the ongoing regional challenges. Subsequently, second panel in the Georgian language convened, featuring contributors from GYLA, Democracy Defenders, ECNL, and OGP Program Lead - Eastern Partnership /EU for Integrity. A central focus of the conference was the analysis of Georgia's civil society landscape. Participants engaged in fruitful deliberations about the prevalent constraints on civic space in the region and shared lessons learned and experiences. Moreover, the attendees discussed the prioritized areas for improvement in Georgia's civil society environment, exploring pathways for progress. This event is organised within the framework of the Action “CSO Meter: A Compass to Conducive Environment and CSO Empowerment“ which is an instrument evaluating civic space in the country based on 11 legal standards. The project, which critically assesses the functioning of these organizations, is being implemented by various Eastern European countries under the auspices of ECNL and with substantial financial backing from the European Union.

IDFI: “On October 4, 2023, Freedom House released the report Freedom on the Net 2023: The Repressive Power of Artificial Intelligence”.  According to the Freedom House report, Internet freedom declined in Georgia by 2 points compared to 2022, but the country still ranks Free.  The report mentions that the country’s telecommunications regulator ordered ISPs to block 480 websites, primarily because they violated copyright law, over a five-year period, even though the government has not provided any clear guidelines on the procedure for website blocking.  In addition, neither the ComCom, ISPs, nor state bodies proactively publish statistical data on website blocking. It is noteworthy that these observations were made based on IDFI’s report.  More... Source: IDFI

Tbilisi. Georgian CSO's appeal to the President of the European Commission. “ (…) Given the complex geopolitical situation that presents Georgia with pressing security issues, granting candidate status to Georgia would be crucial in enhancing Georgia's security during these challenging times and allowing Georgia to devote more efforts to democratic reforms.  We, the civil society organisations, express our hope that the EU Commission recommends granting EU membership candidate status to Georgia. This would mark another milestone toward fulfilling Georgia's historic choice, serve as a catalyst for continuous democratic reforms that strengthen institutions, and bolster Georgia's, as well as Europe's, security”.  More… Source: grass.org

Shida Kartli. On the occasion of the International Day of Peace, celebrated worldwide on 21 September, the town of Gori witnessed a grassroots gathering that united diverse groups, including conflict-affected women, youth, internally displaced persons, and residents living near the Administrative Boundary Line with South Ossetia/Tskhinvali region.  This community event, aligning with the global Peace Day theme “Actions for Peace”, was organised by the local women-led organization “Peace Research Centre Tbilisi”, committed to promoting a culture of peace, understanding, and respect for diversity.  The celebration was supported by the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), as part of the EU4Dialogue project. more... source: EU

84% of surveyed Georgians believe Georgia shares good relations with the EU, which remains the most trusted foreign institution (78%) according to the latest opinion poll carried out annually by the EU neighbours east programme in the six EaP countries since 2016.  Check out the results of the 2023 poll here https://bit.ly/44Zj9Xb  Source: https://euneighbourseast.eu

Tbilisi. “We're building the country envisioned by Ilia Chavchavadze, a European community rooted in equality,” says Rusudan Gotsiridze, Bishop of the Evangelical-Baptist Church of Georgia. Rusudan Gotsiridze’s #HumanRightsTalks lead the way towards a prosperous society where everyone is valued, and no one is left behind. Get ready for an inspiring September as our #HumanRightsTalks return with an impressive lineup of critical topics, fresh perspectives, and exceptional speakers, proudly presented by UNDP Georgia, European Union in Georgia, and The Union of Tbilisi Museums.  More… Source: UNDP

Tbilisi. Morning Talks on Democracy – co-hosted by Senior Fellow of the Economic Policy Research Center, Zaza Shengelia with the anchor of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Nino Gelashvili. Subject of the program: The way to the European Union is by way of unity - but how can this unity be achieved? The implications of the first official visit of the High representative of the European Union to Georgia.  Video  Source: Economic Policy Research Center

Tbilisi. In Tbilisi opened the #UkrainianHouseTbilisi, a symbol of unity and cooperation, committed to supporting 25,000 Ukrainian nationals who sought refuge in Georgia amidst the devastating war.  Led by the Ukrainian community organizatio, the initiative is supported by Deutsche Botschaft Tiflis through UNDP Georgia.  House goals is:  1.Empower Ukrainian nationals residing in Georgia.  2.Provide a versatile community hub for the organizations and volunteer groups serving Ukrainian beneficiaries in Georgia.  3.Establish a vital referral centre for socio-economic services catering to Ukrainian nationals.  4.Offer a vibrant venue for events promoting integration and strengthening Georgian-Ukrainian relations.  More… Source: UNDP

Tbilisi. Only a few months remain before the European Union's decision regarding the granting of candidate country status to Georgia. For this process, the firm and thoughtful position of society is of the utmost importance. Europe is a small step away, and it is time for us to take that step together.  The public platform "Georgia’s European Orbit" invites you to a public event titled "Act for the EU Status!" The meeting will be conducted in an open discussion format. September 7, 2023, 19:00-21:00, Hotel Stamba Amphitheater, 14 Merab Kostavas Street.  "Georgia’s European Orbit" is a new public platform that creates a space for those who believe in the European future of Georgia and are ready to turn current challenges into opportunities for the country's development.  More…  Source: Georgia’s European Orbit

Tbilisi. On October 9, an international conference Uniting Business Europe will be held in Georgia for the first time, organized by the UN Global Compact and the Georgian Network in partnership with other European local networks.  Discover how we're bringing together businesses and organizations from more than 30 countries across Europe to drive positive change and sustainability.  More… Source: UN Global Compact Network Georgia

Information Integrity Coalition is an informal association uniting 15 civil society organizations, dedicated to enhancing the resilience of the population against disinformation in Georgia. The Coalition monitors disinformation sources, actors and narratives, and responds to the challenges of the hybrid warfare. To learn more about the Coalition's work, check out its website https://infointegrity.ge/en.

Tbilisi. Today started 7th Tbilisi International Conference - “Putinism Defeating”, organized by McCain Institute, George W. Bush Presidential Center, the Economic Policy Research Center (EPRC). Live... Aganda...

The web portal CsoGeorgia.org releases a weekly newsletter of grants competition, contests, vacancies, fellowships, and tenders for civil society organizations, and for any interested person. Newsletter...

The web portal CsoGeorgia.org releases a weekly newsletter of grants competition, contests, vacancies, fellowships, and tenders for civil society organizations, and for any interested person. Newsletter...

The web portal CsoGeorgia.org releases a weekly newsletter of grants competition, contests, vacancies, fellowships, and tenders for civil society organizations, and for any interested person. Newsletter...

The web portal CsoGeorgia.org releases a weekly newsletter of grants competition, contests, vacancies, fellowships, and tenders for civil society organizations, and for any interested person. Newsletter...

The web portal CsoGeorgia.org releases a weekly newsletter of grants competition, contests, vacancies, fellowships, and tenders for civil society organizations, and for any interested person. Newsletter...

Samegrelo. Elmira Jinjolia is one of 80 conflict-affected people in Georgia who benefit from the EU’s and UNDP Georgia’s support. Project helped Elmira enroll in an entrepreneurship training programme, participate in a grant competition and made the business idea of opening a coffee shop into a reality. Read more… Source: The EU’s page on the social network