(1)

in Article 3(5)(b), point (ii) is replaced by the following:

(2)

Chapter II of Annex I is amended as follows:

1.

2.

A.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

B.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

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Actions undertaken through the Association Agenda should be implemented in full compliance with the AA/DCFTA, including its preamble;

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The Association Agenda should be implemented in full respect of the principles of transparency, accountability and inclusiveness;

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The Association Agenda demands engagement from both sides and dialogue concerning the association-related reforms;

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The Association Agenda aims to achieve tangible and defined results through the progressive implementation of practical measures;

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The Parties recognise the importance of supporting the agreed priorities through appropriate and sufficient political, technical and financial means;

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The implementation of the Association Agenda will be subject to monitoring, annual reporting, including of overall progress, and assessment. Progress made will be reviewed including in the context of the institutional structures set forth by the Association Agreement. Civil society will also be encouraged to focus their monitoring activities on the Association Agenda;

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The European Union will support Georgia in implementing the objectives and priorities set out in the Association Agenda. It will do so through using all available sources of EU support, as well as expertise and advice, best practices and know-how, information-sharing, support to capacity-building, institutional strengthening, and developing new assistance instruments. It emphasises that EU assistance is bound to jointly agreed strict conditionalities related to the progress on reform. The EU will also work with other partners to ensure coordination of support from other partners of Georgia and reinforce the coordinated approach of Team Europe support which combines resources from the EU, its Member States and financial institutions. The relevant EU financial instruments will also be available to help in the implementation of the Association Agenda. Notwithstanding this, the latter is not in itself a financial programming document and does not substitute for the programming or formulation exercises undertaken by the Parties.

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Continuing to ensure the conduct of transparent, inclusive and credible elections, including by addressing all shortcomings identified by the OSCE/ODIHR;

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Ensuring that legislative amendments affecting key components of the rule of law, such as the independence of the judiciary, are subject to comprehensive and inclusive consultations and brought into line with European standards as well as recommendations put forward by international bodies, such as the Venice Commission, GRECO and OSCE/ODIHR;

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Ensuring continuity and effective implementation of the Public Administration and the Open Government Reforms, in harmonisation with European public administration principles and best practices; promoting participation and open dialogue between civil society and the government, strengthening co-creation process and multi-stakeholder engagement in policy-making, monitoring and assessment; fostering innovative approaches through exchange of knowledge and experience, intensified peer-to-peer learning, and steady cooperation both at political and expert level;

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The dialogue and cooperation will also cover strengthening the justice sector through continued justice sector reform, in particular, ensuring the full external and internal independence of judges and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms including through comprehensive cooperation.

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Ensuring continuity of strengthening the human rights framework through harmonisation and practical implementation of internatonal and European human rights law and practices.

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Effectively implement the third and fourth waves of judiciary reforms in all aspects;

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Effectively implement the 2017-2021 Judiciary Strategy and its action plans in all aspects, and adopt an ambitious judicial reform strategy post-2021 based on a broad, inclusive and cross-party reform process and an assessment of the effectiveness of the third and fourth waves of judicial reforms;

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Strengthen and substantially reform the institutional set-up and practices of the High Council of Justice and other key judiciary institutions so as to effectively increase transparency, integrity and accountability of the norms and decisions they adopt, including on decisions regarding appointments, appraisals, promotions, transfers and disciplinary measures. Submit the reform proposals to the Venice Commission and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights for an opinion and implement their recommendations;

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In particular, ensure a transparent and meritocratic legal framework and practice for the appointment and promotion of judges by bringing it fully into line with European standards and Venice Commission recommendations, including appointments to the Supreme Court;

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Publish written justifications for appointments of judges with reference to integrity and competence criteria;

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Improve the training of judicial candidates, judges and courts' staff by implementing the recommendations put forward by the EU and the Council of Europe;

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Modernise the administration of justice by further enabling electronic submissions and communication with courts, and electronic case management; widen the application of random electronic allocation of cases;

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Continue the reform of the Prosecutor’s Office and the criminal investigation services at the Ministry of Internal Affairs and other agencies aiming at further ensuring independence and professionalism of prosecutorial and criminal investigative work, free from any undue influence and greater transparency and accountability;

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Georgia will review the appointment process for the Prosecutor-General to strengthen the independence of the office/position of the Prosecutor. To this aim, a qualified majority vote in Parliament will be introduced, which is the main Venice Commission recommendation in this respect. This will include an effective antideadlock mechanism that enjoys broad cross-party support and is in line with Venice Commission advice. Additional safeguards will be introduced to ensure that the selection and nomination process is transparent and based on criteria of integrity, independence, impartiality and competence;

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Adopt the reform of the Criminal Code with the objective of the modernisation of the law and ensuring its compliance with the relevant EU and international obligations and standards; approximate criminal proceedings with those applied in EU Member States:

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Widen access to high quality free legal aid;

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Enhance the use and quality of mediation; address deficiencies in consumer arbitration, and create conditions for increasing the use of business-to-business arbitration;

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Step up implementation of the crime prevention and penitentiary strategy, notably by applying rehabilitation and re-socialisation approaches in the Penitentiary, Crime Prevention and Probation Systems and after release.

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Use administrative detention only in duly justified cases. Ensure the procedural rights of an administrative detainee, in compliance with human rights principles including the Right to Fair Trial. Amend the Law on Administrative Offences in this regard;

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Modernise legislation in the commercial, civil and administrative areas in line with national strategies and in approximation with the EU acquis;

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Ensure inclusive access to justice by an adequately funded and staffed Legal Aid Service;

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Properly separate functions between prosecutors and criminal investigators, and establish balanced cooperation mechanisms in legislation and practice;

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Ensure public order and security while guaranteeing human rights protection.

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Develop and ensure effective implementation of a new Anti-corruption National Strategy and the relevant Action Plan beyond 2020 to prevent, detect and address all forms of corruption;

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Strengthen integrity-related institutions in their oversight functions: Civil Service Bureau for asset declarations; State Audit Office regarding audits of national and subnational expenditures and revenues; Competition Agency; Parliament oversight and monitoring by improving capacity of sectoral committees; the Anti-Corruption Secretariat under the Administration of the Government of Georgia; Civil Advisory Councils at local level;

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Further address corruption through both repressive and preventive means. e.g. by further strengthening the efficiency and capacity to investigate corruption; stepping up the verification of the asset and income declarations of all relevant officials, addressing potential conflicts of interest, and monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of measures;

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Ensure that there are efficient mechanisms in place to prevent and detect any COVID-19 pandemic related risks and vulnerabilities in the fight against corruption in high risks areas such as public procurement and health;

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Further strengthen the mechanisms for the prevention of and fight against corruption in key risk areas such as:

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Continue ensuring the approximation of legislation of Georgia to the EU acquis in the area of anti-fraud and implement the provisions of EU legislation as envisaged in the relevant Annexes of the Association Agreement;

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Promote citizen's rights and possibilities to access information and participate in governance at national and subnational level, including through civil society and free and safe media monitoring;

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Develop and ensure effective implementation of the new Public Administration Reform Strategy and the relevant Action Plan beyond 2020;

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Foster implementation of the Public Administration Reform both at political and administrative level, including by strengthening coordination, monitoring and reporting of the corresponding Actions Plans;

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Enhance the openness, transparency and accountability of public administration through implementation of open government reforms;

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Elaborate a unified policy for the development, delivery and quality assurance of public services with the aim to improve citizen’s satisfaction and trust in government;

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Develop robust communication to raise awareness on positive impacts of the Public Administration Reform;

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Implement the civil service legal framework to ensure a more professional and meritbased civil service;

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Continue the implementation of and progress with rule-of-law and anti-corruption benchmarks as part of the Visa Suspension Mechanism.

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Continue combatting corruption, and ensure effective implementation of relevant international legal instruments, such as the UN Convention Against Corruption, and the Criminal Law Convention on Corruption and its Additional Protocol, as well as of recommendations of the Council of Europe's Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) and the recommendations of the OECD-Anti-Corruption Network for Eastern Europe and Central Asia;

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Continue ensuring an effective investigation of alleged cases of corruption and create an effective system for the prevention of conflicts of interest;

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Foster an accountable, efficient, effective, transparent public administration and build a merit-based and professional civil service, including with regard to the system for selection, promotion and dismissal and specialised needs-based training;

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Improve the quality, efficiency and accessibility of public services in the regions of Georgia;

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Improve management and accountability of public finances, taking into consideration gender aspects in programme-based budgeting, and strengthening medium-term strategic planning and implementation;

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Enhance the engagement and capacity of stakeholders, including non-governmental organisations, local self-governments, youth, academia; provide an effective tool for wider public engagement in decision-making and performance monitoring of the public administration reforms;

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Ensure a reliable, accountable, transparent and result-oriented local self-government, empowered with new functions, responsibilities and resources, in line with European standards.

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Develop a new National Human Rights Strategy 2021-2030 and respective Action Plans beyond 2020 incorporating the specific recommendations of UN bodies, OSCE/ODIHR, the Council of Europe, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) and international human rights organisations notably in implementing anti-discrimination policies, protecting persons belonging to minorities and private life and ensuring the freedom of religion or belief; implement the strategyand action plans through close cooperation with national and international actors;

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Continue the implementation of the anti-discrimination law to ensure effective protection against discrimination, in the spirit of “leaving no one behind”; contribute to increasing the level of tolerance and reduce the level of violence;

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Continue to strengthen media pluralism, transparency and independence in line with Council of Europe recommendations;

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Strengthen the implementation of measures to protect media professionals and ensure effective and efficient investigations into all cases of violence against media professionals and bring those responsible to justice;

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Develop a new State Strategy for Civic Equality and Integration and an Action Plan beyond 2020 which aims to ensure equal and full participation of ethnic minority representatives in all spheres of public life and further support of cultural diversity;

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Make progress with the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, the so-called Istanbul Convention by strengthening national institutional capacities in support of issues related to gender equality and gender based violence. Continue enhancing measures to prevent and investigate cases of violence against women and girls, including sexual violence, protect victims and support rehabilitation of perpetrators. Work towards social transformation and changing existing discriminatory attitudes and practices, including in regard to violence against women and domestic violence;

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Step up measures to fight discrimination against LGBTI persons and ensure that they can fully enjoy all human rights - civil and political and economic, social and cultural rights – including the right to free assembly;

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Strengthen access to reproductive and sexual health for persons of all ages, information and prevention, and continue the fight against harmful practices directed against women and girls, including genital mutilation, child, early and forced marriage and other forms of human rights violations and degrading treatment, with special attention for rural areas. Increase maternal health care assistance;

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Take special measures towards persons belonging to minorities in order to contribute to enhancing greater equality in political, economic and social spheres of life;

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Harmonise legislation with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as well as its Optional Protocol and establish a coordinating body for issues related to the rights of persons with disabilities;

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Step up measures to strengthen the inclusion of persons with disabilities in public and economic life and ensure better access to public spaces. Improve conditions for persons with mental health issues;

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Enhance efforts towards combating violence against children through promoting good practices of parenting, greater support in the education system, and improved referral mechanism;

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Enhance efforts towards identifying and combating violence against older persons, continue economic and healthcare support to older people, contribute to greater social inclusion of older persons;

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Increase capacity and build knowledge among public servants on human rights issues.

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Maintain effective mechanisms for both dispute settlement and the protection of human rights, prior to or as alternative for judicial mechanisms;

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Continue to promote, train and raise awareness on human rights protection and antidiscrimination in the judiciary, law enforcement, and all public administration including in the regions;

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Further implement recommendations of the Public Defender’s Office (PDO) including on discrimination cases and further ensure the effective functioning of the institutional mechanism foreseen in the anti-discrimination law;

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Continue building monitoring capacities of the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights and Civil Integration as well as on legal issues linked to the implementation of the Human Rights Strategy and Action Plan;

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Continue to cooperate with Civil Society Organisations (CSO) and the representative social partners (trade-unions and employers' organisations) as stakeholders and watchdogs in areas prioritised by the EU-Georgia Association Agreement (AA), including labour rights, privacy, rights of persons belonging to minorities and other persons in vulnerable situations and media freedom;

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Undertake steps to raise awareness and work towards further compliance with the standing provisions of the Council of Europe Framework Convention on national minorities including on minority languages;

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Continue combating gender based violence and work for its prevention, in addition focusing on changing gender-biased stereotypes, greater involvement of men and boys, supporting women's political participation, economic and financial independence through entrepreneurship and better access to the labour market.

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Ensure the implementation of the relevant anti-torture Action Plans and continue taking further measures to combat ill-treatment and torture, and step up efforts in order to combat impunity;

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Continue to support and further increase the independence of the oversight authority responsible for investigations of complaints against law enforcement officials both at legislative and practical levels in order to efficiently investigate incidents of illtreatment and torture, in line with international standards;

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Ensure a thorough, transparent, independent investigation into any allegation of the use of torture and ill-treatment in the penitentiary system, police, military and other detention facilities through the above-mentioned oversight authority in charge;

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Continue to support and engage with the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) under the Public Defender's Office to prevent abuse through ensuring its effective functioning including through its adequate funding and by protecting confidentiality of the process;

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Further improve detention conditions and conditions of mental health facilities;

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Continue efforts to further improve the penitentiary healthcare system and prisoners' access to health care services including mental health care services, equivalent to the civil sector. Continue capacity-development and empowerment of health care staff working in or for closed institutions in the reporting of ill-treatment;

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To continue strengthening the rehabilitation, harm reduction and healthcare programmes within the penitentiary system;

Further strengthen the effectiveness of ongoing internal and external monitoring of the penitentiary system, police, military and other closed facilities for the early detection and prevention of abuse and ill-treatment.

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Strengthen gender equality and ensure equal treatment between women and men, as well as persons belonging to minorities, regardless of religion or belief, ethnic or national origins, race, language, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, ability or other ground in social, political and economic life;

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Take further measures to strengthen the implementation of legislation against gender based violence, including awareness-raising of both the general population and of specific professional groups, such as the police, and in particular in rural areas. Increase the access of victims to counselling services, housing and shelters;

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Increase the access of victims, including persons belonging to minorities, to counselling services and shelters, as well as post-shelter economic empowerment programmes;

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Improve gender based violence data collection, analysis and reporting. Support combatting gender based violence at local level through greater involvement of local actors, such as municipalities, social workers and CSOs;

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As part of the Human Rights Strategy and Action Plan develop and implement a comprehensive equality policy ensuring the full enjoyment of human rights by all persons, including persons in vulnerable situations.

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The EU position will, in light inter alia of the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2024, aim at strengthening the international legal and policy framework and its enforcement for working towards women’s and youth’s equal, full, effective and meaningful participation, in all their diversity, in all spheres and levels of public and political life, including by advocating for their inclusion on political parties’ list for winnable seats and building candidates’ capacity.

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Approximation to European standards as regards health and safety rules, rules on the protection of maternity, rules on the reconciliation of parental and professional responsibilities as envisaged by the Association Agreement;

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Take active steps to promote increased meaningful participation and representation of women and persons belonging to minorities in political decision making fora and in the labour market and economic activities, including at local representation level (i.e. municipalities);

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Support non-discrimination on the labour market and implementation of the equal pay for equal value work principle;

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Contribute to greater social and economic inclusion and participation of people belonging to ethnic minorities, including through access to information and education, as well as Georgian language learning;

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Through knowledge building and awareness raising activities increase the acceptance and tolerance among the broader population.

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Implement the Child Rights Code by aligning all necessary legislation and strengthen national machinery to protect children against all forms of violence, including child, early and forced marriage;

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Address the needs of all children including those in the most marginalised and vulnerable situations, children with disabilities and children in street situations, including through improving and expanding social protection mechanisms, as well as supporting territorial access to habilitation/rehabilitation programmes for children with disabilities and take steps towards the full elimination of child labour;

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Implement the Law on Social Work and ensure resources for recruitment and capacity building of professionals groups dealing with vulnerable children, including children with disabilities;

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Raise awareness and build knowledge of professionals working with children and broader public, on prevention and combating violence against children;

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Continue working towards the deinstitutionalisation of children, apply a gatekeeping mechanism and continue the development of alternative care.

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Continue juvenile justice reform;

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Make steps towards social and behavioural transformation on combatting violence against children;

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Finalise the deinstitutionalisation of childcare.

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Adopt and implement the legal framework establishing the supervisory functions of the Labour Inspection system for all labour and working conditions legislation, remove all restrictions to the powers of inspectors in existing legislation in accordance with International Labour Organisation (ILO) standards;

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Continue to amend the Labour Code and other relevant legislation and bring them further in line with ILO standards;

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Continue to ensure an effective Labour Inspection system with adequate competences, capacities and resources (financial, human, and administrative) for the inspections of all working conditions and labour relations according to ILO standards.

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Underpin the Labour Legislation with procedures for resolving labour disputes including through the Labour Mediation system;

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Elaborate the methodology of evaluation/measurement of equal work and remuneration;

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Ensure effective functioning of the Tripartite Social Partnership Commission and of its regional branch and continue to improve social dialogue through cooperation with the ILO and European social partner organisations.

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Strengthen efforts to increase the level of alignment of Georgia with EU CFSP declarations and decisions, including in line with the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, enshrined in the EU-Georgia Association Agreement, and action in multilateral fora;

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Enhance cooperation on countering hybrid threats, strengthening cyber security, including through implementing the recommendations based on the hybrid threats survey;

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Strengthen cooperation on strategic communication to consolidate state and society resilience against disinformation; expand and diversify practical cooperation frameworks to include civil society actors and other like-minded state actors and institutions;

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Continue efforts to implement effective Security Sector Reform in Georgia;

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Enhance practical cooperation in conflict prevention and crisis management by facilitating the participation of Georgia in EU-led civilian and military crisis management operations, in consultation and training activities in the CSDP area on the basis of the Framework Participation Agreement signed in November 2013 and in themultilateral framework of the Eastern Partnership Panel on Security, CSDP and Civil Protection and cooperation with EU agencies on CSDP issues;

Promote regional cooperation on security issues, such as migration, improved border management, protection of critical infrastructure, export control, disaster risk reduction and management including emergency response, civil protection, countering smuggling and illicit trafficking (such as bio and nuclear materials) and the training of appropriate personnel, including in particular through the EU Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Centre of Excellence Initiative and its South-East and Eastern Europe Regional Secretariat located in Georgia.

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Promote peaceful conflict resolution and international stability and security to uphold the international rules-based order and based on effective multilateralism;

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Promote joint respect for the principles of independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of borders, as established in the UN Charter and the OSCE Helsinki Final Act, including in the alignment with EU CFSP decisions and declarations.

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Cooperate to counter the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery through full compliance with, and national implementation of, the Parties' existing obligations under international disarmament and non-proliferation treaties and agreements, and other relevant international obligations;

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Make full use of the operational agreement between Georgia and EUROPOL in order to facilitate the exchange of information on terrorist organisations, groups, their activities and their support networks.

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Cooperate so as to deepen international consensus on a human rights-based fight against terrorism, including on the legal definition of terrorist acts, including by promoting an agreement on the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism;

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Continue to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2396, and in particular share information on terrorist suspects in order to identify, detect and prosecute Foreign Terrorist Fighters;

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Co-operate on risk-based customs control ensuring safety and security of goods imported, exported or in transit;

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Tackle the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, including their ammunition, under existing international agreements and UN Security Council resolutions, and commitments under other international instruments applicable in this area;

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Continue to cooperate in the area of conventional arms export control, in the light of the EU Common Position on control of exports of military technology and equipment. Continue co-operation in the fight against trafficking of arms and the destruction of stockpiles;

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Continue contributing to the implementation of the arms control and relevant confidence building regimes; the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) on all its three pillars, as well as Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) and other existing obligations under the relevant international agreements and other international obligations.

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Maintain effective co-operation between the EU and Georgia towards a settlement of the conflict within agreed formats, including with a view to ensuring full implementation of the EU-mediated 12 August 2008 ceasefire Agreement and safe, voluntary and dignified return of IDPs and refugees to their homes, as well as establishing ways for appropriate involvement of the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia in the deepening of EU-Georgia relations;

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Maintain effective co-operation and coordination between the EU and Georgia on the peaceful conflict resolution including through regular political dialogue, and keep the issue of peace-building and security high on the agenda of the EU;

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Coordinate efforts to facilitate implementation of the EU-mediated 12 August 2008 Ceasefire Agreement, including through developing and promoting the subsequent implementing measures in follow-up of the initial one;

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Intensify efforts to ensure meaningful negotiations and reaching tangible results within the framework of the EU, UN, OSCE co-chaired Geneva International Discussions on the basis of the EU-mediated 12 August 2008 ceasefire Agreement to find durable solutions for the security and humanitarian challenges stemming from the unresolved conflict;

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Fully and effectively use the offices of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia to contribute to stability, normalisation, including facilitating a safe and normal life for local communities living on both sides of the administrative boundary lines, and confidence building;

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Continue to work towards the resumption and effective functioning of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanisms in Gali and Ergneti and redouble efforts to address safety and humanitarian needs of the conflict-affected people;

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Continue efforts for addressing human rights abuses in the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia;

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Support peaceful conflict resolution efforts, including via undertaking contacts with the populations of the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia in light of Georgia's reconciliation and engagement policy (including the peace initiative) and the EU's non-recognition and engagement policy on the implementation on which the EU and Georgia cooperate;

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Cooperate in sharing with the populations across the divides the benefits and opportunities stemming from the EU-Georgia political association and economic integration process, including the short-stay visa-free regime to the Schengen area;

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Continue to promote freedom of movement, trade, economic ties and education opportunities across the administrative boundary lines, including through the peace initiative “A Step to a Better Future” and a review of legislation, as needed.

Cooperate in undertaking measures to foster people-to-people contacts, confidencebuilding and reconciliation efforts between communities divided by conflict;

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Take further steps to promote the sustainable integration of IDPs (property rights, employment, and targeted support);

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Ensure efective implementation of the National Action Plan for 2022-2024 on the implementation of the UN Security Council Resolutions on Women, Peace and Security (UNSCR 1325 +);

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Strengthen women’s meaningful participation in peaceful conflict resolution and peace building, and ensure conflict-affected women and civil society are actively consulted as part of all conflict resolution efforts;

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Continue joint efforts and take effective preventive measures to further consolidate the non-recognition policy on the international arena.

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Take steps towards the sustainable resolution of the conflict and without prejudice to the existing formats for addressing the conflict related issues, peaceful conflict resolution will constitute one of the central subjects on the agenda of political dialogue between the Parties, as well as in the dialogue with other relevant international actors;

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Continue joint efforts to promote the establishment of international security mechanisms in the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia, access of international human rights organisations to these territories, and the full implementation of the mandate of the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM Georgia) throughout Georgia;

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Continue working towards enabling the safe, dignified and voluntary return of IDPs and refugees to the places of origin in line with the principles of international law;

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Continue to cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) by implementing the Rome Statute and its related instruments, giving due regard to preserving its integrity. Continue to cooperate with the ICC with respect to August 2008 war investigations.

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Ensure a high-level of protection of personal data and enact legislation in accordance with European standards and take practical steps to guarantee the respect for the right to personal data protection in the public and private sectors, including in the criminal justice field;

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Strengthen the capacity of the data protection oversight authority to ensure facing modern technological challenges in the data protection sphere and successful implementation of European standards in Georgia.

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Continue strengthening the capacity of the data protection oversight authority and follow up on the application of data protection standards.

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Ensure sustained fulfilment of all Visa Liberalisation benchmarks and the recommendations issued by the Commission in the Visa Suspension Mechanism Reports;

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Continue the effective implementation of the readmission agreements, including the readmission agreement between the EU and Georgia;

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Strengthen the operational cooperation to achieve a swift decrease in the number of unfounded asylum applications lodged by Georgian nationals in the Schengen+ area;

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Implement effectively the amendments to the law of Georgia “On rules and procedures for Georgian citizens exiting and entering Georgia”, in full respect of human rights and data protection requirements;

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Continue to organise information campaigns on the rights and obligations of visafree travel;

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Further strengthen border management and maintain the high quality of border checks and border surveillance;

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Report on improvements in the analysis of migratory data and the assessment of risks;

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Update on a regular basis (at least every two years) Georgia's Migration Profile;

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Continue to strengthen operational cooperation with the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), including cooperation on Integrated Border Management, staff exchange, training, observers from the region in joint operations and information exchange through the Eastern Partnership Risk Analysis Network (Eastern Partnership-RAN);

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Finalise and effectively implement Georgia's State Integrated Border Management Strategy 2021- 2025 and the accompanying Action Plan.

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Effectively implement Georgia's Migration Strategy 2021-2030 and the accompanying Action Plans;

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Develop more effective ways to offer circular and legal migration, including labour migration schemes, while respecting existing national legislation and competences as well as full respect to human rights of all migrant workers;

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Effectively elaborate and implement Georgia's State Integrated Border Management Strategy 2021-2025 and its accompanying Action Plans;

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Maintain a high quality of border checks and border surveillance;

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Progress in the demarcation of state borders with neighbouring countries;

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Continue effective implementation of state reintegration program and activities.

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Ensure full operational capacity of the oversight authority responsible for independent investigations of complaints against law enforcement officials. Complaints against the police will require a professional, effective mechanism for credible response including through the internal General Inspection;

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Continue the effective functioning of the Human Rights Protection and Investigation Quality Monitoring Department at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, including by supporting provision of professional trainings of law enforcement officers on human rights as guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights;

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Further expand the application of alternatives to imprisonment, by enhancing the use of the existing and by introducing new non-custodial sentences and increasing the capacities of the probation services;

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Modernise investigative processes and techniques in fighting organised, serious and all other crimes.

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Ensure the continued implementation of the relevant Action Plans on the Fight against Trafficking in Human Beings and continue capacity development activities for the state authorities to proactively identify and efficiently investigate cases of trafficking in human beings;

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Monitor and report on the effectiveness of proactive identification and investigation of cases of trafficking in human beings;

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Develop a new National Strategy for Combating Organised Crime and its accompanying Action Plan and ensure effective implementation;

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Take full advantage of the agreement on operational and strategic cooperation with Europol, including by providing operational and strategic information and by stronger involvement in the EU Policy Cycle / European multidisciplinary platform against criminal threats (EMPACT);

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Continue cooperating with CEPOL for law enforcement training purposes;

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Continue to further develop the intelligence-led-policing and a unified crime analysis system, including by adoption and implementation of the intelligence-led-policing strategy.

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Continue efforts in the area of prevention and fight against organised crime, notably in the framework of the EU Policy Cycle to tackle organised and serious international crime / European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT);

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Enhance cooperation in addressing cybercrime, and providing relevant law enforcement training to Georgian authorities;

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Step up efforts in the fight against cybercrime to build a comprehensive legal and institutional framework in line with the Budapest Convention;

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Further strengthen cross-border law enforcement cooperation to fight against Georgian organised crime groups.

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Continue cooperation in drug prevention and through fully aligning drug policies with EU positions and further advance prevention mechanisms through the implementation of the National Strategy for the Prevention of Drug Abuse 20212026 and its respective action plans;

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Maintain close cooperation with the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) in order to enhance the capacity of the Georgian National Drug Observatory (NDO) and exchange relevant and valid information;

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Ensure the implementation of the National Anti-Drug Strategies and subsequent action plans.

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Continue ensuring a balanced and integrated approach towards drugs issues in order to strengthen systems to cope with the health and social consequences of drug use as well as ensuring more effective prevention and working towards reducing the supply of, trafficking in and the demand for illicit drugs;

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Continue the regular dialogue in the framework of Eastern Partnership (EaP) Drugs Dialogue.

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Align Georgian legislation with the EU fourth and fifth Anti-Money Laundering Directive;

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Monitor and report on the number of freezing and confiscation orders issued and on the estimated value of property frozen and confiscated, in order to ensure the effective implementation of Georgia's legislation on confiscation of criminal assets.

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Continue efforts in further developing the legal and institutional framework for preventing and fighting money laundering and financing of terrorism, including through approximation with EU legislation in these fields;

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Continue to implement standards in the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recommendations on terrorist financing;

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Continue cooperation with FATF, the Council of Europe, MONEYVAL, as well as relevant authorities in EU Member States on anti-money laundering issues;

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Continue enhancing operational cooperation on confiscation, asset recovery and asset management through effective communication and exchange of best practices between the Georgian authorities and the EU Asset Recovery Offices.

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Continue the implementation of the operational cooperation agreement with Eurojust.

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Enhance judicial cooperation in civil and commercial matters by implementing the 1965 Convention on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters and the 1970 Convention on the Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil or Commercial Matters;

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Accede to and implement the main Conventions of the Hague Conference on Private International Law in the field of judicial cooperation as well as the protection of children, such as the 2005 Convention on Choice of Court Agreements and the 2007 Hague Convention on Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance, and its Protocol on the applicable law to maintenance obligations;

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Enhance judicial cooperation in criminal matters by acceding to and implementing the relevant conventions, especially those of the Council of Europe.

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Make further improvements in the area of trade statistics;

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Work together to increase the diversification of Georgia's export structure, including export of new products to the EU market.

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Cooperate closely with a view to applying effectively the anti-circumvention mechanism;

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Assist Georgia in drafting and implementing legislation it may intend to prepare on market access or other related issues (i.e. trade remedies);

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Ensure exchange of information on market access-related developments and policy on market access.

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Develop legislation which Georgia committed to implement on the basis of the Association Agreement as provided in its Technical Barriers to Trade Strategy (TBT);

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Further develop infrastructure related to administration of standards, technical regulations, metrology, market surveillance, accreditation, and conformity assessment procedures, including through EU support;

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Facilitate the preparation and adaptation of stakeholders, including economic operators, for the implementation of approximated legislation;

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Continue the implementation of the Market Surveillance Strategy for industrial goods;

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In the Market Surveillance field, strengthen administrative capacities of relevant Georgian state institutions and market surveillance bodies;

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Provide further staff training for the administration of government bodies and agencies working on technical regulations, metrology and standardisation, and accreditation;

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Exchange information on all relevant aspects of the Georgian TBT and Market Surveillance Strategies, including timeframes as applicable.

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Support the early warning system for the food and feed, animal health and plant health safety;

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Organise information campaigns with relevant agencies, businesses and nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) on the requirements for accessing the EU market, as well as with civil society on the relevant consumer protection aspects of food and food safety;

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Provide further EU technical advice and support to Georgia in drafting and implementing legislation on SPS, including training the relevant staff, providing capacity-building to the competent authority and supporting the improvement of the laboratory capacity, in line with the EU requirements;

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Support Georgia in the successful implementation of the approximated legislation in the areas of SPS measures;

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Enhance the adaptation capacity of Georgian business for the implementation of approximated legislation. Focus support to adaptation capacity specifically on micro, small and medium Food Business Operators.

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Support Georgia to strengthen the risk analysis in the SPS field; ensuring veterinary phytosanitary and food safety checks at the border inspection posts; facilitating the adaptation of Georgian businesses for the implementation of approximated legislation; progress on the authorisation of additional food products to the EU market;

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Collaborate in the field of animal welfare and on the reduced use of antibiotics in animal production to combat antibiotics resistance.

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Continue to cooperate in ongoing work for the approximation of Georgia’s legislation to the EU acquis and international standards listed in the relevant Annex to the Association Agreement such as the new Customs Code;

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Ensure implementation of the Strategic Framework for customs cooperation, with follow-up review and update as required;

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Continue to support the implementation of Georgia’s legislation on customs enforcement of intellectual property rights (IPR) to the EU acquis, as envisaged by the Association Agreement;

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Inform regularly about the implementation of the Customs Code;

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Assist Georgia in its accession to the Convention on a Common Transit Procedure.

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Cooperation on measures related to Customs digitalization initiatives and platforms open to Georgia.

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Continue to modernise Georgian customs authorities;

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Continue to simplify and modernise customs procedures;

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Co-operate on risk-based customs control and sharing of relevant information that contributes to improved risk management and security of the supply chains, facilitation of legitimate trade and safety and security of goods imported, exported or in transit;

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Strengthen dialogue on the fight against fraud to prevent illegal trade, including in excisable products, particularly through enhanced cooperation in the framework of the Protocol on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters;

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Capacity-building to enhance the implementation of the digital customs environment;

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Work towards mutual recognition of an Authorised Economic Operator system as envisaged by the Association Agreement.

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Implement the provisions of the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Convention, especially in the field of proofs of origin (issuance and verification, compliance with the rules of origin) and customs cooperation.

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Training and building adequate administrative capacity to undertake planned legislative approximation;

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Exchange information and experience on the development of interoperable eCommerce trading platforms;

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Exchange information and experience on raising awareness among stakeholders on the implementation and enforcement of the key provisions of the EU Postal Services Directive, in particular the universal service obligation, as well as other relevant postal sector policy.

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Reduce the proportion of direct procurement (without open call for tenders) through stricter secondary legislation and stricter application of rules, in particular regarding direct procurement due to urgent necessity and events with restricted timeframe;

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Set up an independent and impartial public procurement review body, in line with the revised legal framework;

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Provide precise and timely information on planned legislative work affecting procurement policy and its implementation, both for the legal approximation and the set-up of institutions in the field of public procurement;

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The Association Council will adopt the relevant Joint Decision on granting market access in accordance with the completion of phase I of the roadmap on the public procurement chapter.

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The Parties will further discuss the implementation of the obligations stemming from the Association Agreement;

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Georgia to continue, with the support of the EU, the drafting and adoption of new public procurement legislation, in line with the approximation process and time-line foreseen in the Association Agreement.

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Support the functioning of the National Intellectual Property Centre of Georgia “Sakpatenti” in order to ensure the protection of industrial property rights and copyright; extend cooperation with third country authorities and industry associations;

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Strengthen the enforcement capacity of relevant governmental bodies or executive agencies, as well as ensure proper functioning of the judicial system to guarantee access to justice for rights holders and implementation of sanctions;

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Take effective measures against counterfeiting and piracy, including production of statistical information on those activities to be shared between the Parties;

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Cooperate regarding the application of an exhaustion regime in matters of intellectual property.

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Ensure rights holders from both Parties a high level of IPR protection and enforcement;

Take measures to increase public awareness in the field of intellectual and industrial property protection and use, and ensure effective dialogue with rights holders.

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Cooperate on the implementation of the Competition Chapter of the Association Agreement and the related reforms. Cooperation will tackle the institutional framework and relevant administrative capacities of Georgia's Competition Authority in order to guarantee effective implementation of relevant competition legislation;

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Cooperation will also cover an enhanced dialogue on enforcement activities in the competition and subsidy areas.

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Further strengthen implementation of commitments on transparency in trade-related policy-making;

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Discuss best practices and respective experience in transparent policy-making, exchange information and provide relevant training, including on communication mechanisms and stakeholder consultations, as well as conduct seminars and other events for the wider public, aimed at explaining the implementation of the Association Agreement and the approximation process.

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Establish an appropriate enforcement and supervision system for all labour standards and rights, and in particular for the eradication of child labour, in line with international and EU principles and practices;

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Cooperate on the implementation of the updated Nationally Determined Contribution and on developing the long-term low emissions development strategy in line with the Paris Agreement;

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Further strengthen the effectiveness of the CITES system implementation, in particular for species traded with the EU in high numbers, such as Galanthus spp;

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Continue improving and exchanging best practices under the Chapter about stakeholder involvement and civil society dialogue;

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Continue the dialogue on the implementation of the commitments related to trade and sustainable development.

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Continue to exchange information on effective implementation of labour standards, and on upholding labour protection, including effective supervision and enforcement;

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Discuss the implementation of multilateral environmental agreements, which either side is a party to;

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Cooperate on pursuing an ambitious global biodiversity framework under the Convention on Biological Diversity.

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Cooperate to support Georgia in establishing a fully functioning market economy, focusing on achieving sustainable, green and inclusive economic growth, and gradually approximating its policies to the policies of the EU in accordance with the guiding principles of macroeconomic stability, sound public finances, a robust financial system and sustainable balance of payments;

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Monitor macroeconomic developments, discuss key policy challenges and exchange information on best practices by strengthening the regular macroeconomic dialogue in order to improve the quality of economic policymaking;

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Strengthen the independence and regulatory capacity of the National Bank of Georgia (NBG) and share EU experience on monetary and exchange rate policy including on the international role of the euro, to further develop Georgia’s capabilities in these areas;

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Further improve the sustainability and governance of public finances by continuing to improve fiscal reforms;

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Improve efficiency of State-Owned Enterprises and further reduce related fiscal risks through the adoption of corporate governance standards;

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Develop a sustainable, comprehensive and well-targeted social safety net;

Foster greater inclusion of women in the labour market and business, aiding economic growth.

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Ensure the implementation of the Agriculture and Rural Development Strategy (ARDS) 2021-2027 and relevant Action Plans;

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Adopt by 2021 and implement the strategic document for the Food Safety component of the Agriculture and Rural Development Strategy (ARDS) 2021-2027;

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Implement the institutional reform of rural development;

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Support the development of efficient value chains, support SMEs to increase their competitiveness in selected sectors with high export value; reinforce coherence between selection of priority value-chains and trade priorities;

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Ensure opportunities for women in rural diversified economies;

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Ensure the provision of all public services in rural areas, with particular emphasis on the most remote rural places, not to leave anyone behind.

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Modernise and improve the efficiency of institutions responsible for agriculture and rural development, including through participation of all relevant sector stakeholders in this process. Further strengthen the coordination mechanism between government and civil society organisations;

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Promote and facilitate climate-smart agriculture, energy-efficient technologies and other good agricultural practices; modernise and improve production, processing and storage of agricultural products to increase productivity, added value and competitiveness of Georgian agriculture;

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Facilitate the gradual adoption of marketing standards for agricultural products to support better food safety and continue the implementation of quality schemes, including organic agriculture and products with geographical indications;

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Improve the competitiveness and sustainability of agricultural production, including by fostering economies of scale via market-oriented agriculture cooperatives and producer organisations, by developing advisory and extension systems to increase production and augment exports; promoting organic production, and by easing access to viable credit and financial resources for agriculture;

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Move towards the progressive convergence and implementation of effective agricultural and rural development policies, on the basis of proven EU models;

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Enhance employment and living conditions in the rural areas through improved management of natural resources, improved services and infrastructure and diversification of the rural economy.

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Further develop the internal control system under decentralised managerial responsibility, including a functionally independent internal audit in state authorities by ensuring harmonisation with generally-accepted international standards, frameworks and EU good practice.

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Continue to improve the internal control and internal audit system in the public sector in line with a gap assessment between current practice and generally accepted international standards, frameworks and EU good practice;

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Ensure the further development of the external audit function of the Court of Accounts (State Audit Office of Georgia), in line with generally-accepted international standards (INTOSAI).

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Further implement the EU health acquis, as mentioned in the relevant annexes of the Association Agreement, in particular in the area of blood safety, tobacco control, quality and safety of substances of human origin (blood tissues, organs, cells), communicable diseases and pandemic preparedness in line also with Georgia’s international obligations under the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and the International Health Regulations;

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Improve the coverage of the Universal Health Care Programme and reduce out-ofpocket expenditures to be paid by the patients. Increase digitalisation (e-health);

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Enhance quality and accessibility of primary healthcare aiming at disease prevention and improvement of quality of life;

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Finalise, adopt and start the implementation of the National Health Strategy and its Action Plans;

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Strengthen national multi-sectoral action to fight anti-microbial resistance inter alia by strengthening surveillance, prudent use of antimicrobials and infection control in healthcare settings;

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Prepare for the implementation of the International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH), in the framework of approximation with the EU pharma acquis. This would give Georgia a good basis to ensure quality, safety and efficacy of medicines (mostly for imports, or for local manufacturing/consumption).

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Improve the inclusiveness of healthcare and preventive services e.g. encouraging healthy lifestyles through involvement of CSOs, local authorities;

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Strengthen policymaking and control healthcare institutions as well as patient rights and their enforceability;

Strengthen healthcare institutions – most of which are privately-run – and their accountability through establishing quality indicators, value-based purchasing and other quality management processes including recognising the accreditation of health care institutions by international accreditation bodies.

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Improve and simplify tax legislation;

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Promote good governance in tax matters, improve international cooperation and implement the principles of good governance in the tax area, including the global standards on transparency and exchange of information, fair taxation, and the minimum standards against Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS);