On June 22, the Democracy Research Institute held a working meeting – “Parliamentary Control over the Security Sector”.

The purpose of the meeting was to introduce the draft law prepared by the Democracy Research Institute to the stakeholders. Members of Parliament and civil society representatives attended the meeting.

A few years of observation of the security sector of Georgia reveals that the parliamentary control mechanisms are weak and need to be strengthened. This observation is shared by the European Commission. Strengthening of parliamentary control, accountability of law enforcement agencies and their oversight are necessary conditions for Georgia to receive candidate status (European Commission Recommendations 2 and 6). Strengthening the mechanisms of parliamentary control over the security sector will not be possible without increasing the mandate of the Trust Group and changing the way it works, which necessitates changes in the Rule of Procedures of the Parliament of Georgia.

The draft law changes the legislation regulating the activities of the Trust Group, increases its composition and powers of its members, and specifies the procedure for staffing the Trust Group.

We have sent the proposals developed in the process of working on the priorities set forth by the European Commission to the Procedural Issues and Rules Committee and the Defence and Security Committee.