As part of its parliamentary oversight responsibilities, the Georgian Parliament’s Committees on European Integration, Agrarian Issues, and Environmental Protection and Natural Resources convened a joint committee hearing to discuss the implementation of Association Agreement commitments. The report was presented by Nino Tandilashvili, the First Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture.

As reported, the government in 2024 has been implementing comprehensive environmental protection and sustainable development reforms to align its policies with European standards. Significant progress has been made in areas such as air and water quality enhancement, natural resource preservation, sustainable ecosystem utilisation, and effective forest management. These initiatives aim to improve the overall health and well-being of the citizens. In 2024, environmental control has been significantly enhanced, enabling the timely detection of violations. Furthermore, the Ministry has made a concerted effort to raise public awareness about the importance of environmental protection. Additionally, the Ministry is actively implementing climate change consequences prevention and early warning systems, which will ensure the safety of citizens and mitigate the impact of natural disasters.

The reforms also encompass the development of protected areas’ systems, the enhancement of eco-tourism potential, and the facilitation of the creation of new job opportunities and regional development. The integrated waste management modern system is being incorporated, which includes the construction of new regional non-hazardous waste deployment facilities and the arrangement of waste transfer stations.

The Parliament adopted a new Law on Agriculture and Rural Development, which is based on the EU standards, and thus, progresses to a new stage of rural development in the country.

The nationwide reforms align the food safety, veterinary, and plant protection systems with EU requirements.

Additionally, various programs have been implemented to enhance agriculture, establish innovative technologies, and boost local production. Notably, there is a focus on developing farmer qualifications, constructing modern infrastructure, and improving food safety and quality standards. Consequently, agricultural product exports have increased, along with agricultural businesses and financial assistance for farmers.

“The investments in agriculture surpassed 8,5 billion GEL, with the state’s contribution amounting to 2,5 billion GEL.

As a consequence of the implementation of over 20 supportive state programs, a significant increase in Georgian product exports to the EU market has been achieved. Furthermore, Georgian consumers now have access to higher-quality Georgian products”, - the reporter elucidated.

The joint sitting of the Committees was hosted by the Batumi City Assembly. The sitting was attended by the Chair of the City Assembly; the Agriculture Minister of Ajara AR; the Chair of the Agrarian and Environmental Affairs Committee of Ajara AR Supreme Council, and the Committee members