The National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia (NALAG) organized the national conference on The EU-Georgia AA and Decentralization in Georgia. The conference is currently taking place in the hotel Holiday Inn, Tbilisi.

Ms. Tamar Taliashvili, Vice-President of the National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia, Vice-President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Ms. Mzia Giorgobiani, the deputy minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia (MRDI) and Mr. Bjoern Rongevaer, Senior Advisor of the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities (KS) international projects addressed the audience with welcome remarks.

Ms. Tamar Taliashvili thanked Mr. Bjoern Rongevaer for the partnership and stated that Norway is a leading country in terms of developing local self-governance throughout the Europe, Ms. Taliashvili also remarked that the joint projects between NALAG and KS are very important and beneficial for Georgia.

Mr. David Melua, the Executive Director of NALAG made a presentation of the report on Obligations under the EU – Georgia AA in the field of decentralization and local democracy. Mr. Nikoloz Rosebashvili was next on the agenda presenting the objectives, goals and activities of the new decentralization strategy.

These presentations were followed by intense discussions, participants of the conference talked about the importance of this project and the new decentralization strategy.

After discussions Ms. Natya Ghvinashvili, the deputy executive director of NALAG, talked about   consultation meetings on the draft decentralization strategy. Which was organized by NALAG with its member municipalities earlier in January 2019.   

At the moment, Ms. Nino Zurabishvili and Mr. Kakha Gurgenidze, experts of NALAG, are discussing views and recommendations expressed by the participants during the regional meetings. They are also presenting recommendations from NALAG for the finalization of the draft decentralization strategy.

Mr. David Melua and Ms. Natya Ghvinashvili will sum up the conference with the discussion of  Indemnification of areas for future assistance to Municipalities. 

Tomorrow the participants of the conference will discuss Inter-Municipal Cooperation.