MPs, Business Representatives Discuss Legislative Openness
The European Union and the United Nations Development Program supported a meeting organized by the Permanent Parliamentary Council on Open and Transparent Governance to spur legislative openness for the business environment.
According to EU Neighbors, Georgian MPs met around 60 representatives from different business sectors to discuss the effects of legislative openness. The business community is a strong advocate for legislative openness, pointing to flexible solutions for common workplace problems due to restrictive legislation. The meeting included a proposal section in which business representatives suggested various legislative plans to the Members of Parliament.
“The European Union supports the Parliament of Georgia in its efforts to open up a discussion space with the private sector,” said Sophie Huet Guerriche, Coordinator for the Governance Sector at the EU Delegation to Georgia. “This process benefits both law-makers and entrepreneurs, especially considering Parliament’s crucial role in promoting investment and creating a business environment in the country.”
“Georgia has achieved significant progress over the past few years in opening up the parliamentary work to the public. Cooperation with wider circles of Georgian society, including the private sector, is the key to moving forward and develop an effective action plan that will guide our work in the next two years,” said Irina Pruidze, Chairperson of the Permanent Parliamentary Council on Open and Transparent Governance.
Kakha Kuchava, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Environmental Protection & Natural Resources, noted the role of the private sector in strengthening parliamentary transparency through the effective use of technology and innovation.
The Georgian Parliament largely implemented numerous proposals from last year’s Open Parliament. Out of 24 commitments, 13 were fully implemented and 11 partially implemented. Among the achievements, the Parliament has initiated the Code of Ethics of MPs and provided opportunities for citizens to submit e-petitions and e-legislative initiatives remarks the Delegation of the European Union to Georgia.
Sophie Huet Guerriche underlined this success by commenting “Open Parliament strengthens accountability and transparency of the authorities and presents additional opportunities for their cooperation with civil society, private sector, and citizens.”
Open Parliament is part of Georgia’s efforts under the Open Government Partnership, an international platform that unites 75 countries to help their governments become more open, accountable, and responsive to citizens. The EU and UNDP are supporting Open Parliament in Georgia under their wider programme for strengthening parliamentary democracy.
By Benjamin Music