Within the frames of the work visit to Belgium, Minister of Internal Affairs Giorgi Mgebrishvili visited European Policy Center (EPC) and participated in the round table format meeting. The meeting was attended by the members of the Georgian delegation, representatives of Euro Commission, embassies, international and non-governmental organizations and journalists.
During his speech Giorgi Mgebrishvili acquainted the gathered guests with the reforms recently implemented at the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia as well as the progress achieved in the direction of the Euro-integration.
Minister made a special emphasis on commitments undertaken within the frames of VLAP, that have been successfully accomplished by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Giorgi Mgebrishvili also outlined the importance of the support from the side of European institutes after enactment of the visa free regime.
As it was stated by the Minister of Internal Affairs, throughout the last years, important legislative, structural and functional changes have been implemented with the aim to make the ministry closer to the European standards and convert the agency into society-oriented structure.
Giorgi Mgebrishvili discussed issues related to integrated border management, document security, the fight against illegal migration, and progress achieved in introducing personal data protection standards, which was positively assessed by the European experts.
Minister also summed up results of the fight against trafficking and noted that Georgia has earned the leading position in list of the 176 counties fighting against human trafficking, which was assessed by the US State Department.
Giorgi Mgebrishvili also acquainted the attending guests with the planned projects on crime prevention, response and investigative functions, including: criminal police reform, analysis-based police activities, and multi-functional/high tech joint operations center as well as society-oriented police.
As it was stated at the meeting by the Minister, one of the major priorities of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia is to continue the existing cooperation with the law enforcement agencies of European states. According to him, agreement on cooperation in the fight against crime has already been concluded with 16 states, while MIA deployed Georgian police attaches in 13 countries.
Minister also stated that in the nearest future agreement on cooperation on operative and strategic level will be signed with EUROPOL after which Georgia will become EUROPOL partner state.
At the meeting Giorgi Mgebrishvili provided comprehensive answers to journalists’ and analysts’ questions. He expressed hope that cooperation with EPC will bring Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs even closer to European commonwealth. Minister of Internal Affairs offered participants of the meeting to share experience of the implemented reforms and noted that activities held within the frames of such format will enable partner states to share their achievements and best practices.
