“The EU, its member states and Georgia signed an Association Agreement (AA) in 2014, which includes a component of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area Agreement. (DCFTA). In the same year, for the purpose of implementing the competition policy, creating conditions for the development of competition, and protecting the market from anti-competitive actions, an independent Agency - the Georgian Competition Agency - was established.
The role of the European Union in strengthening the competition policy and the protection of consumer rights in Georgia is special. In 2020, the Parliament of Georgia approved amendments to the Law of Georgia on Competition, which is the best example of the process of harmonizing Georgian legislation with European legislation. From 2021, the Law of Georgia on the Introduction of Anti-Dumping Measures in Trade came into force, which aims to protect the local industry from dumping imports. And in 2022, the law on the protection of consumer rights came into force, the enforcement of which was assigned to the Georgian National Competition Agency.
The EU-funded TWINNING project - “Strengthening Capacity of the Competition Agency of Georgia“ has started on June 1, 2022. The project aims to strengthen the competition and consumer protection policy within the framework of the EU-Georgia association agreement, improve the legal status of consumers in Georgia, ensure a high level of protection and facilitate the development of a culture of fair behavior based on respect towards consumers. Also, raising the institutional and human resource capacity of GNCA in line with EU best practices
In the direction of strengthening the competition policy, with the financial support of the European Union, a project of similar importance was implemented in 2017 - “Support to the Georgian Competition Agency”, which lasted for three years. In line with EU best practices and DCFTA provisions, the legal and institutional framework has been improved.
Happy Europe Day everyone!”
