EU ASSISTING GEORGIA IN LEGISLATION
Sylvie Pantz, who after serving as a judge and prosecutor in France for 20 years gained international experience as well by heading the investigating division at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, outlined the ‘Rule of Law’ mission’s priorities at a news briefing in Tbilisi on July 22.
“The mission will undertake the guidance for Georgia's new criminal justice reform strategy, including support in the planning of new legislation, for example the Criminal Procedure Code,” Sylvie Pantz added. She said that the mission, which will last for a year, will also support the Georgian authorities to coordinate judicial reform and anti-corruption measures, as well as will support international and regional cooperation in the area of criminal justice.
Sylvie Pantz says that the mission will try to help Georgia to set up a reformed criminal-justice system, which, as she put, “will not be my French system, it will be your Georgian system.”
Legal experts from EU member states will be co-located in the Ministry of Justice, Interior Ministry, General and District Prosecutors Offices in Tbilisi, Council of Justice, Supreme Court, as well as Tbilisi District Court and Public Defender’s Office to provide Georgian officials with recommendations. The mission has already outlined the first task for the Georgian officials. Sylvie Pantz expressed hope that by the end of this year, officials from the judicial and law enforcement agencies “will draft the strategy document over the reforms.
The EU officials say that both, launching of the ‘Rule of Law’ mission and inclusion into the ENP emphasizes Georgia’s and the South Caucasus importance for the European Union.
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