Vote on financial help to Georgia
MEPs will decide on a €45 million financial assistance package for Georgia on Wednesday.
The EU is set to provide €35 million in loans and €10 million in grants to help Tbilisi cover part of its external financing needs for 2017-2020.
MEPs, however, are likely to insist that the preconditions for this - respect for democracy, rule of law and human rights, along with efficient and transparent public financing and structural reforms - are regularly monitored by the Commission and the European External Action Service.
Disbursement should be temporarily suspended or cancelled if these preconditions are not met or the provisions of a 2014 EU-Georgia Association Agreement are disregarded, say MEPs.
Background
This is the third time since 2008 that the EU has offered assistance to Georgia as it continues to face financial difficulties. Georgia joined the EU’s Eastern Partnership in 2009 and the EU-Georgia Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area entered into force in September 2014. The EU is Georgia’s main trading partner.
Vote: Wednesday, 14 March
Procedure: Ordinary legislative procedure
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