A presentation of the first Abkhaz-language translation of the textbook “Seven Steps for Comprehending the European Union” was held at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (TSU) on July 12. The translation is the result of cooperation between TSU, the European Public Law Organization (EPLO) Regional Branch in South Caucasus and the Office of the Minister of Justice and Civil Integration Issues of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia. The publication provides knowledge about the European Union that is needed to understand the European Union as a unique international entity, its institutional arrangement and decision-making mechanism, as well as the trajectory of accession to the European Union.

TSU Rector George Sharvashidze, Chairman of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia, Ruslan Abashidze, Minister of Justice and Civil Integration Issues of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia, Nana Gabelia, Head of EPLO Regional Branch, Ioseb Nanobashvili and invited guests attended the event.

“The publication describes what mechanisms and tools exist in the European Union, how the European Union works and what a country must do to become its member. It is necessary for our Abkhaz fellow citizens to receive proper assessment of these issues, especially as a lot of false information is being disseminated regarding the European Union,” Rector Sharvashidze said.

“This Abkhaz-language publication is critically important for our society. It should be widely spread among all beneficiaries and especially the people living in the occupied regions,” Ruslan Abashidze noted.

Nana Gabelia, Minister of Justice and Civil Integration Issues of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia said that her agency will do its best to spread the publication among the Abkhaz-speaking population. “In terms of awareness raising, we retrained our civil servants employed in the structures of Abkhazia and raised their awareness about the European Union and European institutions that is a huge step ahead,” Nana Gabelia added.

Ioseb Nanobashvili, Head of EPLO’s Regional Branch in South Caucasus, noted that after the presentation of the Abkhaz-language textbook, they awarded the employees of the staff of the government of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia who successfully passed the awareness raising program “Institutional Arrangement of the European Union: EU Decision-making Procedures and the Role of EU Institutions in this Process”. The program was jointly created by EPLO’s Regional Branch and EPLO’s European Law and Governance School.

The EPLO Regional Branch was opened in Georgia based on a joint decision between the Government of Georgia, EPLO and TSU and it aims at creating an educational and research component promoting Georgia’s integration into the European community. The Regional Office serves as a format for conducting research and training with the involvement of European experts, scientists and practitioners, where educational programs will be developed, including for public agencies, considering the needs and challenges related to the European integration process. Scientists, researchers and practitioners from the Eastern Partnership Initiative, as well as the EU candidate countries will actively participate in the working process.