Coordination between Georgia state agencies

By decree N 186 of the Government of Georgia on 7 February 2014, the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia was tasked with general coordination and monitoring of the implementation of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) related aspects within the Association Agreement.

The coordination of the Association Agreement between Georgia and the European Union, including the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, is carried out on two levels.

The national level relates to the coordination between Georgian state agencies. Various participating state agencies make up the European Integration Commission, led by the Prime Minister of Georgia. The Commission reviews reports on activities carried out by the Government of Georgia to meet the obligations under the Association Agreement, including the DCFTA. Commission meetings are held quarterly. Within the Commission, an interagency subcommission for DCFTA is formed, led by the Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development.

Coordination between Georgia state agencies

Georgia-EU Association Council

This level relates to coordinating the Association Agreement, including the DCFTA, between Georgia and the European Union. The EU Association Council is a supreme body that includes the EU–Georgia Association Committee in Trade Configuration formed for the DCFTA. The committee holds meetings annually and contains 4 subcommittees: the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Subcommittee, the Geographical Indications Subcommittee, the Customs Subcommittee, and the Trade and Sustainable Development Subcommittee.

Georgia-EU Association Council

DCFTA Advisory Group 

The DCFTA Advisory Group was established in 2015 in the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, in order to ensure involvement of civil society in the process of effective implementation of the DCFTA.

The Advisory Group is a deliberative body, the main aims of which are facilitating effective implementation of the DCFTA and ensuring civil society involvement in this process.

The Group is comprised of representatives from the associations and the business sector of Georgia, specifically:

• Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia;
• Business Association of Georgia;
• Georgian Trade Unions Confederation;
• Georgian Employers' Association;
• Georgian Small and Medium Enterprises Association;
• EU–Georgia Business Council;
• Georgian Chamber of Commerce and Industry;
• International Chamber of Commerce of Georgia;
• Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum – Georgian National Platform.

The Group is headed by a chairperson, who is unanimously elected by the Council Members, with annual rotation terms.

The functions and objectives of the Advisory Group include:

• Reviewing implemented reforms related to the DCFTA;
• Consulting on planned and ongoing reforms, and legislative and institutional changes related to the DCFTA implementation process;
• Consulting on the employers, employees, and consumers adaptation processes to the DCFTA requirements;
• Reviewing DCFTA’s implementation Action Plan and relevant reports.

DCFTA Advisory Group