During a plenary session on Tuesday, Parliament fast-tracked and approved in the first reading amendments to the Law on Grants, with 83 MPs voting in favor, according to the Parliament’s press service.
Tornike Cheishvili, First Deputy Chairman of the Legal Affairs Committee, explained that under the proposed changes, grants awarded through the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation program, Erasmus+, the German Academic Exchange Service, and the Creative Europe Program will no longer require prior government approval when issued within the framework of cooperation between Georgia and the EU.
Cheishvili noted that the amendments also broaden the legal definition of a grant to include technical or expert assistance, knowledge sharing, and similar forms of support. The changes provide technical updates regarding the allowable use of grant funds, expanding eligible sectors to include humanitarian aid, defense, and security. In addition, the list of entities permitted to issue grants is being further specified.
An earlier amendment passed in April had introduced a requirement for government or authorized approval of foreign grants to safeguard national sovereignty. However, Cheishvili said that experience with the law’s implementation revealed practical issues, prompting the need for further clarification and greater administrative flexibility.
He emphasized that some international grant programs present minimal risk to national sovereignty and security and could therefore be exempt from the approval process. “Existing regulations already provide exceptions, especially in the fields of education and science,” Cheishvili added.
