Mediation and Arbitration Improve Business Environment in Georgia

TBILISI. 14 February 2018 – Protracted legal proceedings and underdeveloped alternative dispute resolution create burdens for business environment and investments in Georgia, concluded representatives of the Ministry of Justice of Georgia and the European Business Association at their meeting on 14 February 2018. 

“Reinforcement of alternative dispute resolution is an important part of the ongoing justice reform. It is our goal for each citizen, as well as for businesses operating in Georgia, to feel protected before the law and fulfil their rights through various available mechanisms. Georgia has made important steps forward while sharing the international experience in mediation and arbitration, and improving the national legislation in these areas. We are determined to continue this positive process in the future,” said Tea Tsulukiani, Minister of Justice of Georgia. 

The discussions at the meeting brought together representatives of legislative, executive and judicial authorities, private sector, diplomatic missions and international organizations. 

Janos Herman, Ambassador of the European Union to Georgia; Bruno Balvanera, Director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in the South Caucasus, Moldova and Belarus; Natia Natsvlishvili, Assistant Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Georgia; Giorgi Mikautadze, Secretary of the High Council of Justice of Georgia; and David Lee, Director of the European Business Association, addressed the audience. 

The meeting was organized by the European Business Association in Georgia, supported by the support of the European Union (EU) and UNDP in the framework of their joint initiative to ensure access to justice for all. The project is part of the comprehensive EU4Justice Programme, a cooperation framework between Georgia and the European Union in the justice sector with a current EU budget allocation of EUR 50 million.