Georgia’s Foreign Ministry to Establish General Directorate for European Integration

Georgia’s Foreign Minister, Mikheil Janelidze, stated that a new structure - General Directorate for European Integration - will be formed in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).

The Minister made the statement at a joint sitting of Diaspora and Caucasus Issues and European Integration Committees in Parliament.

Janelidze stated the new structure will unite some departments of the Foreign Ministry and former departments of the Ministry for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, which was merged with the MFA in late 2017.

He added that the new structure will employ professionals to further enhance Georgia-EU positive relations.

“This is the launch of a new type of structure under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs - this is a European type structure, and for the first time in the history and practice of public services. By the merging of these two agencies, a very strong and firm structure will be set up under the General Directorate and it will not be depended on political instability,” Janelidze explained.

In addition, the Minister said the MFA of Georgia intends to establish a diplomatic research institute.

According to him, the decision aims at creating and developing qualified diplomatic corps in the country.

“We are going to strengthen our diplomatic training center and establish a studying and diplomatic research institute. This will be attached to career development stages and will give us a strong, qualified diplomatic corps. Evaluations will be based on unbiased criteria. Also, qualification courses will give diplomats the opportunity to be more effective in their activities,” he added.

By Thea Morrison