Political environment
Georgian Constitution was adopted by the Parliament on 17 October 1995. It establishes a system of government based on the US model of division of powers between a strong executive led by a President, a powerful Parliament, and an independent judiciary.

The executive branch is led by a President, elected by popular vote for a five-year term. The President is both the chief of state and the head of government in the absence of a post of prime minister.

The legislative branch of government is based on a unicameral national assembly with 235 seats (A second chamber has to be instituted after resolution of the secessionist conflicts). The members of parliament are appointed for a four-year term. 150 of them are elected by party list and 85 from single member districts. There is a 7% threshold for parties to be represented in Parliament.

The legal system is based on the civil law system. The Constitutional Court oversees the conformity of laws and judicial proceedings with the Constitution, and the court of highest instance is the Supreme Court, whose members are elected by the Supreme Council upon recommendation by the president.

Administratively Georgia is divided into 53 rayons and nine cities. The governors of the rayons are appointed by the President.

Members of the European People’s Party
There are no EPP linked parties in Georgia at the moment

Projects and activities
Georgia - Leadership Training together with the VVD, the PvdA and the SAQDA (CDUG's youth organisation)
Project: 'Political Leadership Training' in co-operation with the VVD and the PvdA (September 2005)
EFF Trainer: Eiko Smid
The international organisations of the CDA, the VVD and the PvdA organised a weeklong course for 30 politically active youth of Georgia's seven biggest parties: National Movement & Unified Democrats, New Rights & Enterprise will save Georgia, the Republican Party, the Georgian Traditionalists Union, the Labour Party, the Christian Democratic Union of Georgia, and the Socialist Party. Among these youth a great need exists for knowledge regarding party building, party ideology and political leadership skills development. The Dutch foundations each sent one trainer. The following courses were available: "Personal SWOT-analyses and a Personal Message", "Strategy and Organisations", "Party Organisation and Finances", "Delivering Speeches", "Radio Interviews", and "Press Conference Practice”.

It was the first time for such a training to be organised. Three German political foundations also joined the project. The youth found the training course useful and educational. Every effort will be made to initiate a platform for youth from different parties to meet and exchange ideas. The Dutch foundations have the intention to collectively continue and organise activities for Georgia's youth

SAQDA Training Courses
Project: 'Christian Democracy' - seminar (January 2005)
EFF Trainers: Eiko Smid and Titus Frankemölle
Although the presence of ideologies is common to Europeans, it is notably absent in Georgia as Georgia formed part of both Czarist Russia and the former USSR. For centuries there had been no breeding ground for social and political ideologies. Today, the Christian democratic movement in Georgia regards Christian democratic teachings as the universal basis for Christian democratic governance and policy. The CDUG can act as a link between religion and politics as the party's roots lie in Christian democratic teachings. Hence the basis for co-operation between the EFF, the SAQDA and the CDUG.

Although Christian democratic values and teachings are still in their infancy, training courses and seminars will contribute to broadcasting the ideology to a wider audience. Current issues such as territorial integrity, state involvement in the economy, legislation development, education, (un)employment, poverty, environmental protection, defence, and healthcare should be discussed by the CDUG within a Christian democratic framework.

The young participants in the Batumi seminar were all university educated which made for analytical, academic debates. The basic skills of how to change (personal) ideas into political goals and how to develop these goals into an attractive party programme and an effective policy should definitely be included in the next seminars.

Project: 'Party Building' - seminar (January 2005)
EFF Trainers: Rutger Jan Hebben and Loek Schueler
The training programme mainly focused on party building and development of the SAQDA, the youth party of the Christian Democratic Party of Georgia. The main goal of the programme was to make participants come up with solutions themselves. The interactive programme was designed to explore creative and concrete goals in order to establish a well-structured political youth organisation.

Although the CDUG - the SAQDA's mother party - is not represented in Parliament at the moment, the participants nonetheless are determined to see the CDUG in Parliament within three years' time. At the beginning of the training course, the instruments of choice in order to obtain this goal were populism and PR as opposed to content, ideology and party building that were to be discussed and implemented after the return to Parliament.

The working group's participants concluded that if they wanted to rebuild their party and secure its survival then taking advantage of time until the next elections would be crucial. Ideology as a fundamental idea and transforming it into a distinct political message distinguishes them from other parties. To that purpose, the right individuals must represent them in Parliament and local councils and build up an internal campaign organisation. The participants recognised the importance of a long-term strategy and the necessity of a stable party organisation in time for the next elections.

Project: 'Communication and PR in Politics' (May 2005)
EFF Trainers: Annet Doesburg and Frank Pynenburg
The course's main objective was to further develop skills in order to prepare potential leaders for a life in politics. The importance of successful communication and a good image was also stressed; ideas cannot be implemented in politics without said features. This applies especially to the CDUG as this party is not represented in Parliament and has therefore limited access to free publicity.

The EFF trainers prepared lectures - as well as related workshops - on the following subjects: "Basic Elements of Political Communication", "Experience with the European/Dutch Media", "Issue Management", "Message Development", "Creating a Political Message", "Campaign and Negotiation Training for Supporters", "Campaigning for Interest Groups", and "Improving Negotiation Skills". The EFF trainers were delighted to have interactive and enthusiastic participants; they were self-critical and were motivated to take part in the workshops.

Project: 'Subsidiarity' - seminar (June 2005)
EFF Trainers: Frank van den Heuvel and Monique Vogelaar
The seminar on subsidiarity had been organised for SAQDA members and representatives of its affiliated youth organisations. The seminar's goal was to help participants further develop their knowledge in order to participate in debates on subsidiarity, self-governance and federalism. The following topics were covered: "Basics of Self-Governance", "Reality and Perspectives of Federalism in Georgia", and "Decentralisation of Political Power".

Project: 'Campaign Training' - seminar (October 2005)
EFF Trainer: Gijs Weenink
In October 2005, the EFF organised a campaign training course for the CDUG's youth organisation. The SAQDA is a fast-growing youth organisation but its members are young and inexperienced. The training course aimed to acquaint youth with campaign issues. The following topics were covered: "Basic Elements of Political Communication", "Experience with the European Media", "Creating a Political Message", "Target Campaigning", and "Press Conferences".

Project: 'Conflict Conciliation' - seminar (November 2005)
EFF Trainers: Jan Mulder and Anne Offermans
Georgia deals with separatist regions within its own borders. It is a politically sensitive issue and cannot be seen separately from its relations with Russia as Russia has increased its influence on the bordering hotspots of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Tensions have increased as Mikhail Saakashvili' priority is to reclaim the breakaway regions.

The seminar's goal was to instruct the SAQDA's youth in human rights, peace efforts, democratic principles, and emphasise the youth's role in peace building. The seminar's topics also covered the specific tools for peace, which will enable peace efforts in the region and establish co-operation between youth by means of intercultural meetings.

Following are the specific topics that were covered during the seminar: "Conflict Escalation and De-Escalation", "Minority Education", "National and International Crisis Management", "Crisis Management from EU/NATO Perspective", "Ethnic Integration", and Political Conditions for Economic Freedom".

Project: 'European Integration' - seminar (December 2005)
EFF Trainers: Huibert van Rossum and Bert de Wilde
Georgia has enjoyed a considerable amount of attention from Europe since Saakashvili's accession as President of Georgia. The President has indicated that he favours closer ties with the European Union. This particular seminar covered European integration and the EU policy on said subject. The following topics were covered: "EU Neighbourhood Policy", "EU Harmonisation Policy, "Free Market Policy", and "EU Immigration Policy".

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