The coordination seminar: „Reinforcing dialogue on gender equality and informed local government reform in Georgia: Achievements, Challenges and Opportunities” organized by the National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia, with the support of PLATFORMA and the Network of Associations of Local Authorities of South-East Europe (NALAS) is over.

Ms. Mzia Giorgobiani and Mr. Lasha Daraselia, Deputy Ministers of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia (MRDI), Mrs. Tamar Taliashvili, Member of Tbilisi City Council, Vice-President of NALAG, Vice-President of CoE Congress and Vice-President of CEMR and Mr. Boris Tonhauser, executive adviser at PLATFORMA gave the welcoming remarks.

Ms. Natia Gvinashvili, Deputy Executive Director of the National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia moderated the event.

The speakers mentioned that holding an ongoing seminar in Tbilisi and sharing best European practices and knowledge is another proof that Georgia is on the path to EU integration and is focused on further strengthening relations between the European Union and its partner countries.

Mr. David Melua, Executive Director of the National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia (NALAG) welcomed the participants of this event. He thanked the representatives of PLATFORMA and NALAS for supporting the organization of this seminar and emphasized the importance of the ongoing workshop.

Mr. David Melua participated in the session: “Policy dialogue on next steps for informed Decentralization and Local Government Reform in Georgia”, during which he talked about the open and inclusive support mechanisms between local governments, associations and EU institutions for further implementation of the reform.

Mr. David Melua, Executive Director of NALAG, Mr. David Khosruashvili, President of the Association of Finance Officers of Local Self-governing Units of Georgia and foreign experts participated in the panel discussion during the seminar.

The two-day workshop was held on 18-19 February. Mr. David Melua and Mr. Boris Tonhauser, executive adviser at PLATFORMA made concluding remarks.

The coordination seminar is held in the framework of PLATFORMA activities in the EU Neighborhood East, it aims to monitor and follow-up decentralization and administrative reforms, develop an open and inclusive political dialogue with the national government, and with European Union institutions and bodies, develop national advocacy priorities and plans for national associations of local and regional governments.