Tbilisi. 23 May. 2024. the closing event of the EU-funded Twinning project “Strengthening Capacity of the Competition Agency of Georgia” was held at Pullman Tbilisi Axis Towers, marking the successful conclusion of the two-year initiative.
The event brought together around 100 participants from the international community and key stakeholders of the project. Representatives from the project’s international consortium, including the Competition Council of Lithuania, the State Consumer Rights Protection Authority of Lithuania, and the Federal Competition Authority of Austria, attended the event.
Keynote speakers included representatives from the Delegation of the European Union in Georgia, the Parliament of Georgia, the Embassies of Lithuania and Austria, the Project Leader, the Resident Twinning Advisor (RTA), and the Chairman of GCCA.
The EU-funded project, with a budget of €1,200,000, aimed to enhance the effective enforcement of competition and consumer protection law and policy in Georgia, which is in line with EU best practices. This was achieved by strengthening the institutional and human resource capacities of the Georgian Competition and Consumer Agency.
“During these two years, more than 100 quite significant activities were conducted within the Twinning project. We are grateful to all stakeholders for their active participation. According to experts’ evaluation, in 2022 when the project was launched, the compliance of the competition legislation of Georgia with the European Union’s legislation was approximately 60% and today the figure exceeds 80%”- stated Mr. Irakli Lekvinadze, the Chairman of the Competition and Consumer Protection Agency of Georgia and expressed gratitude to the Delegation of the European Union to Georgia, local and international experts and all relevant agencies for collaboration and support.
“ For over 50 years, the EU has innovated and set new standards that ensure millions of citizens of the European Union are safer and better informed as a result. As an EU candidate country, Georgia too shall benefit in the same way. In light of Georgia’s ongoing efforts towards greater alignment with the EU acquis, this partnership and investment in the capacities of Georgia’s Competition and Consumer Agency has been relevant from the very beginning. The EU Delegation congratulates Lithuania, Austria and the GCCA on their achievements”, said Mr Nicholas Cendrowicz, Head of Cooperation at the Delegation of the European Union in Georgia.
Ms. Irma Urmonaitė, the Project Leader, also shared her thoughts: “The collaboration between our teams has been exceptional, and we hope that the outcomes of this project will have a lasting positive impact on competition and consumer protection in Georgia.”
Ms. Justina Paulauskaitė, the Resident Twinning Advisor, highlighted the project’s success, saying, “The results we have achieved through this project are a testament to the dedication and hard work of everyone involved. We have made significant strides in enhancing the capabilities of the Georgian Competition and Consumer Agency.”
The project significantly improved Georgia’s capacity to enforce competition and consumer protection laws, aligning them more closely with EU standards. Through extensive training, capacity-building activities, and strategic advisory, the project has left a lasting impact on the institutional framework and operational capabilities of the Georgian Competition and Consumer Agencies.
About the Project
The EU Twinning project “Strengthening Capacity of the Competition Agency of Georgia” ran from June 1, 2022, to May 31, 2024. This collaborative effort involved the Competition Council of Lithuania, the Federal Competition Authority of Austria, the State Consumer Rights Protection Authority of Lithuania, and the Central Project Management Agency, working together to support the Georgian Competition and Consumer Agency (GCCA). The project aimed to align Georgian competition and consumer protection policies with EU best practices. The Central Project Management Agency (CPVA) is responsible for the administrative–financial management.
