Prepared by Messenger Staff
Georgian Dream Advances New Amendments to Grant Law, Expands Oversight of Technical Assistance
Parliament fast-tracked amendments to the Law on Grants today, June tenth, expanding the scope of government oversight while introducing limited exemptions for certain European educational programs. The changes were passed in a first reading by the Georgian Dream majority.
The amendments broaden the legal definition of a grant to include not only financial support but also technical assistance and the sharing of specialized knowledge, skills, or expertise. This new language would bring a wider range of international cooperation programs under state supervision.
According to the proposed revisions, "a grant shall also be deemed to include technical assistance provided to the grant recipient in the form of technology, specialized knowledge, skills, expertise sharing and/or other forms of support."
At the same time, the proposal includes a clause exempting certain programs from prior approval requirements. The list includes Horizon Europe, Erasmus Plus, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), and the Creative Europe initiative between Georgia and the European Union.
Tornike Cheishvili, first deputy chair of the Legal Issues Committee and a Georgian Dream MP, said the changes are aimed at improving the law's clarity and administrative efficiency. "In practice, certain issues have emerged that require further clarification," Cheishvili said. "Several programs have been identified whose grants pose minimal risk to state sovereignty and security. Current regulations already allow for such exceptions in fields like education and science."
PM Kobakhidze Calls for Reset of U.S.-Georgia Strategic Partnership
Irakli Kobakhidze has announced plans to reset the country's strategic partnership with the United States, calling for a new beginning marked by specific objectives and a defined roadmap. Speaking to Georgian journalists during a visit to Milan, Kobakhidze emphasized the importance of rebuilding bilateral ties.
"It is important for us to restore the strategic partnership with the United States from a clean slate," he said. "We want to restore the strategic partnership with specific guidelines and specific tasks."
Kobakhidze confirmed that Georgia will soon appoint a new ambassador to the United States. The nominee, Tamar Taliashvili, has already been submitted to the President for approval. "Georgia received consent regarding the appointment of an ambassador, and very soon we will have an officially appointed representative," he said. "Tamar Taliashvili is an exceptionally worthy candidate for this post."
Outlining the ambassador's mandate, Kobakhidze said her primary responsibility would be to engage with the new U.S. administration and advocate for the revitalization of the strategic partnership. "This is also the ambassador's task - to convince the new administration of the United States of all this," he stated.
He expressed optimism about the future of the relationship, framing it within a broader context of shared values. "We very much hope that in the conditions of convergence of values, these relations will be reset and the strategic partnership will be restored."
He also commented on internal political developments in the United States, referring to ongoing tensions within American governance. "We must emphasize once again that the struggle continues between the new administration and the deep state, and we have great hope that the new administration will be fully successful in this struggle," Kobakhidze added.
