Georgian Parliament Speaker to Danish counterpart: dialogue, not blocking, key to European integration

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Tuesday said the legislative body had recently received a letter from the Chair of the European Affairs Committee of the Danish Parliament, informing that Georgia’s parliamentary representatives would not be invited to participate in the upcoming COSAC meeting - the Conference of European Affairs Committees of EU member and candidate countries.

In a social media message, Papuashvili noted that what made this decision particularly noteworthy was that, according to COSAC’s own regulations, the Danish Parliament did not have the authority to withhold an invitation from the Georgian Parliament.

“Apparently, for some, the rules-based international order has become a flexible term, shaped by political taste”, he pointed out.

“Therefore, the only word that can describe this decision is arbitrariness. The justification - a claim that the Georgian Government has supposedly decided to suspend EU integration - is simply disinformation. And where there is arbitrariness and disinformation, there can be no Europe. This is something everyone must understand”, the Speaker said, sharing an official response letter to the Chair of the Danish Parliament.

“Your Excellency,

I am writing in response to the letter of June 20 from Ms. Brigitte Klintskov Jerkel, Chair of the European Affairs Committee of the Danish Parliament, addressed to the Chairperson of the Committee on European Integration of the Parliament of Georgia, Mr. Levan Makhashvili. Ms. Jerkel mentions that she writes also on behalf of the Chairs of Danish Parliament's Finance and Foreign Policy Committees.

As is evident from the letter, the Chair of the European Affairs Committee of the Danish Parliament intends not to invite representatives of Georgia's Parliament to the meetings of COSAC, citing Georgia's suspension of its EU accession process.

Using this issue as a pretext for disinviting the Georgian delegation is surprising as the Government of Georgia never stated that it suspends the integration process with the European Union. To the contrary, the Georgian Government continues its best efforts to fulfill the candidate country requirements in accordance with the Georgia-EU Association Agreement.

The Chair of the European Affairs Committee of the Danish Parliament, in her letter, acknowledges that Georgia, as the EU candidate country, has 'the right to be invited to the meetings of COSAC. Indeed, the Article 3.2 of COSAC's Rules of Procedure stipulates that "three members of the Parliaments of each candidate country shall be invited as observers to plenary and extraordinary COSAC meetings". At the same time, it has no regulation about the denial of their participation.

Therefore, with the above mentioned in mind, the denial to invite the Georgian delegation is a violation of Georgian Parliament's right to participate in the COSAC meeting, guaranteed by the COSAC Rules of Procedure. This contradicts the letter and spirit of the norms of the international rules-based order, which has recently been facing formidable challenges, thus contradicting the fundamental pillars of the European Union, as enshrined in its treaties.

Your Excellency,

I strongly believe that the essence of European integration is fostering dialogue and exchange of ideas and opinions, not blocking them, especially in contradiction to the rules.

I look forward to future collaboration and dialogue.

Please, accept the assurances of my highest consideration”, the letter said.