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Georgia decides not to borrow EUR 75 mln in macro-financial assistance from EU to counter pandemic
TBILISI. Sept 1 (Interfax) – The Georgian government has decided to refrain from requesting EUR 75 million in a second tranche of macro-financial assistance from the European Union.
This is a loan from the EU, the first part of which was disbursed to the country in 2020, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said when commenting on the government’s decision to reporters on Tuesday.
"Our economy has achieved significant growth this year, and we have begun to reduce our foreign debt, so we don’t need to receive this amount. Of course, we are very grateful to the European Union for all the assistance it has provided to us during the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, and in general, for everything they have done. On the other hand, this issue has acquired a very large political tint. In order to avoid any insinuations, the government has decided to refrain from borrowing the second part of the loan," Garibashvili said.
At the same time, EU Charge d’Affaires ad interim in Georgia Julien Crampes said at a press briefing in Tbilisi on Tuesday evening that his office had already received notification from the Georgian government of refraining from requesting the second tranche of the EU macro-financial assistance, which was due to be received by Tbilisi in late September.
"This amount [EUR 75 million] was due to be disbursed before 30 September 2021, should Georgia have been in compliance with the mutually agreed commitments taken by its Government in September 2020, when signing the conditions for this assistance program. The macro-financial assistance, EUR 150 million in total out of which half has been disbursed, was aimed at assisting Georgia and its citizens in addressing the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic," Crampes said.
Crampes noted that the EU respects the decision of Georgia’s authorities, but at the same time, he emphasized that Georgia has failed to sufficiently meet the conditions for this macro-financial assistance.
In particular, Georgia failed "to increase the independence, accountability, and quality of the judicial system. The EU calls on the Georgian authorities to uphold their reform commitments, including in the justice sector, in the interest of Georgian citizens and of the future of EU-Georgia relations," Crampes said.
