The Council of Europe and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia assessed their joint work, identified priorities for the final year of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Georgia 2024-2027 and discussed future co-operation at a Steering Committee meeting held in Tbilisi on 9 October 2026.

Lasha Darsalia, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, and Claus Neukirch, Director of Programme Co-ordination of the Council of Europe, opened the meeting. Representatives of Georgian authorities and institutions joined Council of Europe counterparts to review results and remaining challenges across the Organisation’s three core pillars: human rights, the rule of law and democracy.

The Steering Committee meeting forms part of a broader consultation process involving all stakeholders under the Council of Europe Action Plan for Georgia.

Discussions covered the rights and protection of women and children, the independence and efficiency of justice, the execution of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, freedom of expression and media, drug prevention, democratic participation and governance.

Participants looked beyond activities carried out to assess what has changed through the implementation of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Georgia, where institutions need further support and how effectively Georgian laws and practices reflect Council of Europe standards. Through the Action Plan, the Council of Europe works with Georgian counterparts to support reforms and bring national legislation, institutions and practice closer to European standards on human rights, the rule of law and democracy.

The meeting provided an opportunity to identify priorities for 2027 and discuss future co-operation, including a potential Council of Europe Action Plan for Georgia for 2028-2031. Any future framework would draw on lessons from the current plan and needs identified through these consultation processes

“Today’s meetings are about taking stock, identifying lessons learned and discussing future needs,” said Claus Neukirch, Director of Programme Co-ordination of the Council of Europe. “I would like to thank all stakeholders and partners involved in the implementation of the Action Plan for their co-operation. Only by working all together we can achieve tangible improvements.”

The Committee of Ministers adopted the  Council of Europe Action Plan to Georgia 2024-2027 on 18 October 2023, and the Council of Europe and Georgia officially launched it in Tbilisi on 18 January 2024. The Action Plan serves as a strategic programming instrument to bring Georgia’s legislation, institutions and practice further into line with European standards in the areas of human rights, the rule of law and democracy and to support the country’s efforts to honour its obligations as a Council of Europe member state.