The Executive board of NALAG held its XXXII Session on 2 February 2019. Mr. Giorgi Tkemaladze the vice-president of National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia (NALAG) chaired the session. The session was attended by Ms. Mzia Giorgobiani, Deputy Minister of MRDI and Mr. Nikoloz Rosebashvili, head of department of MRDI. XXXII Session of the Executive Board discussed the draft decentralization strategy for 2019-2025.  

Representatives of MRDI made a presentation on objectives, goals and activities of the new decentralization strategy. This presentation had been followed by intense discussions.

Mr. David Melua, the Executive Director of NALAG and Ms. Natya Ghvinashvili, the deputy Executive Director have also attended this session. Ms. Mzia Giorgobiani, the deputy minister of the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia (MRDI) and Mr. Nikoloz Rosebashvili, the Head of Department of Local Self-governance and Policy of MRDI had taken active part in this session. Mr. Kakha Gurgenidze and Ms. Nino Zurabishvili, the legal experts of NALAG and the members of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) had intervened in discussions.

Members of the Executive Board of NALAG expressed their views on the presented draft strategy, especially on the highlighted topics such as: to assign more power to municipalities, to implement fiscal decentralization measures, to provide adequate resources to municipalities for implementation of delegated functions; to use easy procedures for registration of municipal property. As stated by the representatives of MRDI the opinions provided on the session will be enshrined in the final draft of the strategy.

The participants of the meeting mentioned that NALAG will continue cooperation with the municipalities for finalization the draft decentralization strategy. Representatives of MRDI also highlighted the role of NALAG in this process.

Mr. David Melua mentioned that Earlier, NALAG in cooperation with MRDI, under the auspices of the UNDP had organized consultation meetings with its member municipalities on the draft decentralization strategy for 2019-20125 in regions of Georgia.

As stated by the representatives of NALAG the association will elaborate recommendations for finalization of the decentralization strategy based on opinions provided by the municipalities. They will submit this document with the Executive Board of NALAG for approval and then send it to MRDI as the recommendation.

During the meeting was discussed the draft budget of NALAG for 2019. All the members of the Executive Board unanimously supported this draft budget.