Today, the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) has made public its Second Compliance Report of Fourth Evaluation Round on Georgia, to assess Georgia's implementation of recommendations on combatting corruption.
The Fourth Evaluation Round of GRECO evaluates the member states' parliaments, prosecutor's offices, and courts for compliance with issued recommendations.
In its report, GRECO welcomes Georgia's progress in such directions as the growing transparency of the legislative process, the creation of the Parliament's Ethics Council, ethics trainings for MP, improved regulations under the rules for appointing judges, the improved reasoning of decisions on appointing judges and possibility to appeal such decisions, the upgraded Norms of Judicial Ethics to enhance disciplinary proceedings against judges, practical steps toward the implementation of the Code of Ethics for Prosecutorial Service, and improved Rules on Recruitment and Promotion of Prosecutors.
The Second Compliance Report reads that Georgia has implemented, fully or for the most part, the vast majority of GRECO recommendations. Compared to the First Report, the status of implementation has improved in relation to three recommendations. Georgia is expected to submit additional information on the pending recommendations by March of 2022.
The Greco Report reiterates the success of Georgia's anti-corruption policy commended by an authoritative international anti-corruption monitoring body. The state's Anti-Corruption Policy and Strategy for Combatting Corruption are defined in Georgia by the Anti-Corruption Council, an interagency body led in the reporting period by the Justice Minister and to be chaired in the future by the Prime Minister of Georgia. The Anti-Corruption Council's members represent the country's executive, legislative, and judiciary, also international and local organizations, including NGOs and businesses. Georgia's interests in relations with GRECO have been represented by the Analytical Department of the Justice Ministry.
The Second GRECO Report is available at https://www.coe.int/en/web/greco/-/second-compliance-report-of-fourth-evaluation-round-on-georgia-public-today.