Tbilisi.On May 15, at 15:00 the Grassroots Human Security Grant (GGP) Program of the Embassy of Japan in Georgia will conduct a public consultation meeting for the potential applicants who plan to send GGP application by June 30, 2024. The consultation will be held online. In order to participate, please fill out the registration form: More... Source:  Embassy of Japan in Georgia

“Joining the European Union for Latvia meant we became part of a community that respects and protects human rights, freedom, equality and solidarity.” -  Watch the Counsellor of Embassy of the Republic of Latvia to learn more on what the EU membership means for Latvia. More... Source: European Union in Georgia 

Tbilisi.On April 30, Rondeli Foundation hosted a roundtable discussion on “Involvement of the Women from the Regions in Social and Political Processes” with participation of active women from different regions and representatives of various political parties. The participants discussed daily challenges hindering women’s active engagement in the social and political processes of their respective regions and the state in general. The roundtable discussion was held within the framework of the project “Supporting Free and Fair Elections Cycle in Georgia” More... Source: Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies

Statement by President von der Leyen on the situation in Georgia  "I am following the situation in Georgia with great concern and I condemn the violence in the streets of Tbilisi. Georgia's citizens are demonstrating their strong attachment to democracy. The Georgian government should heed this clear message. The European Union has also clearly expressed its concerns regarding the law on foreign influence. The Georgian people want a European future for their country. In recognition of these aspirations, the European Council in December gave Georgia candidate status and set out a clear path to the opening of accession negotiations. We expect the Georgian government to take swift action on the measures they have committed to take as a candidate country. Georgia is at a crossroads. It should stay the course on the road to Europe." More... Source: European Union in Georgia

Tbilisi.Among many other activities, don't miss out on the Europe Day Talks on May 11th at Expo Georgia! Pavilion 6 will host panel sessions covering a range of topics about the EU and Georgia, including opportunities supported by the EU, shared values, human rights, and more. Hosted by Davit Gorgiladze, these talks will provide quite a few answers about Georgia's European future. More.... Source: European Union in Georgia

Tbilisi.On April 18, 23, and 24, the Rondel Foundation organized a training session for human resource management specialists working in the public sector. The focus of the training was Modern Human Resources Management – Employee Surveys, Politics and the Role of the Civil Service. The event comprised of one webinar and two seminars. The seminars were facilitated by Swedish consultants Hans Norgren, Eva Falck, and their Georgian colleague Tamta Chrikishvili. Additionally, Swedish consultants Mats Beskow and Katarina Önell participated remotely in the seminar. The combined webinar and seminars were designed to enhance the capacity of HR managers and experts within the Georgian civil service, providing them with insights into utilizing employee research/surveys and comprehending the significance of civil service roles. More... Source: Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies

“By entering the EU, we have chosen a path of values, prosperity, solidarity and security and being part of the community with high respect for human rights and individual freedoms.”   Watch the Ambassador of the Slovak Republic sharing insights into his country's journey as part of the EU family. More... Source: European Union in Georgia 

Speech delivered by Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, on behalf of High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell. "Madam President, Honourable Members of the European Parliament, Over the past weeks, thousands of citizens of Georgia have taken to the streets to exercise their right to peaceful demonstration, demanding once again that authorities withdraw the law on transparency of foreign influence. We have seen impressive scenes from Georgia last year already. Citizens of all ages holding Georgian and European flags showing their strong attachment to democracy, to our shared European values and to Georgia’s path towards the European Union. At the time, the ruling party and the government made a public pledge to the Georgian citizens that such legislation would never come back. I urge the political leaders of Georgia to withdraw the draft law. As it was the case last year, it is clear that this legislation is incompatible with the EU norms and values. If adopted, it would jeopardise Georgia’s progress on the EU path. Georgians have a future in the European Union. The candidate status that was granted last December has brought our relations closer than ever before. Our door is open, so I urge the Georgian leaders to mirror the expectations of the citizens and not derail the country from the EU path. The work of civil society and media organisations is crucial to any democracy. Georgia has a vibrant and diverse civil society that has contributed to the country’s successful progress towards EU membership. The proposed legislation would limit the capacity of civil society and media organisations to operate freely, it would limit freedom of expression and unfairly stigmatise organisations that deliver benefits to the citizens of Georgia. This would also impact the European Union’s support to the Georgian people, as a part of it is channelled through NGOs. Transparency should not be used as an instrument to limit civil society’s capacity to operate freely. The Commission stressed in its enlargement report the work that Georgia needs to undertake and in particular the nine steps. As an EU candidate country, Georgia is expected to comply with the Copenhagen criteria, which specifically require adherence to principles of democracy, the rule of law and human rights. Only meaningful and irreversible progress in these fundamental areas determine the opening and overall pace of accession negotiations. Finally, the EU urges the Georgian leaders to foster national consensus around the goal of joining the European Union. It is imperative for all political leaders to reduce polarisation and engage positively and constructively with each other and with the civil society. Enlargement is a success when the whole country is behind this goal. It is also a strategic choice of any country that decides to embark on this path. It is a commitment to align not only with our norms, but also with our values." Source: European Union in Georgia 

Watch the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden sharing her experience about Sweden’s membership in the EU. “The European Union is a unique partnership and when we joined the European Union in 1995 it was an important moment in our history.” More... Source: European Union in Georgia

“For Italy, the European Union constitutes a project of peace, mutual growth and common security.” Ambassador of the Italian Republic shares his experience about Italy’s membership in the EU. More... Source: European Union in Georgia

Explore the Expo Georgia map and kickstart your Europe Day plans with us on May 11th! Join us to make memories together at this exciting event! map... Source: European Union in Georgia 

The Europe edition of the popular game “What? Where? When?” was successfully launched in 2023. Throughout 2024, the game will also be played in other municipalities of Georgia, including Samtskhe-Javakheti Region, Kvemo Kartli Region, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Region, and the Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti Region. The questions for the game were tailored to enable youth to learn more about the European Union in a fun and interactive manner. School students from grades. In alignment with Europe Day activities, this quiz game marathon is designed to make learning about the European Union engaging and interactive. The marathon will progress across all regions of Georgia. More... Source: European Union in Georgia 

“I do not normally use the expression “a dream come true”, but the sensation for the majority of the Bulgarian population when we joined the EU was very close to it.” -  Find out more about what the EU membership means for Bulgarian people in the interview with the country’s Ambassador. More... Source: European Union in Georgia 

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...

"For Spain, being part of the EU, was really a recognition. It was a dream come true.” If you want to know more on what the EU membership means for Spain watch the Charge d’Affairs of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Spain in the video   More... Source: European Union in Georgia

“It meant joining a community of friends and neighbours with shared values, with common goals.”- Watch the Ambassador of the Republic of Austria, reflecting on Austria's EU accession. More... Source: European Union in Georgia

“Thanks to Europe, we do not have to choose between peace, freedom and our culture. This is also true for the candidate countries. It is also true for Georgia.”   Watch the Ambassador of France in Georgia sharing her experience of what does it mean to be part of the EU family. More... Source: European Union in Georgia 

“The European Union meant possibilities and opportunities for young generation, for the future.”   Find out from the Ambassador of Hungary what it meant for her country to have joined the EU in the video below. More... Source: European Union in Georgia

European Union in Georgia publishes a video. "Our commitment extends to preserving Georgia's invaluable cultural heritage, nurturing the growth of its creative sectors, reviving the splendor of historic cities, empowering local producers, and unlocking the full potential of its tourism industry." More... Source: European Union in Georgia

 USAID/Georgia publishes information about the USAID Resilient Communities Program Since launching in 2022, the USAID Resilient Communities Program has already issued $3.1 million in grants to 110 businesses and community organizations located near the Administrative Boundary Lines. USAID has facilitated $5.2 million more in private investment.  This has helped local businesses create local prosperity. This is just one example of how we partner with Georgia to strengthen communities – supporting businesses, creating jobs, improving public services, and partnering with local government and civil society. More... Source: USAID/Georgia

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...

Tbilisi."The European Union has made it clear that its doors are open, but Georgia needs to act now to advance towards EU membership. Last week, we regrettably saw the return of a draft law on Transparency of Foreign Influence. Maintaining an enabling environment for civil society organisations and ensuring media freedom is at the core of democracy. It is also crucial for the EU accession process. I truly hope that political leaders will implement reforms in line with the objective of joining the EU, supported by a large majority of Georgia’s citizens.”, - stated the EU Ambassador Pawel Herczynski at the event, where Georgia’s Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) presented their assessment report of the implementation of the 9 steps laid out by the European Commission upon granting Georgia the EU Candidate Status. More... Source: European Union in Georgia