On July 19, 2024, Tbilisi State University (TSU) with USAID Rule of Law Program support organized a public discussion on the “Key Principles, Institutions and Legal Instruments of the European Union,” attended by 20 students and academic staff at TSU.

TSU Law School Professor Irene Kurdadze opened the event and spoke about the way in which the European Convention on Human Rights has become an obligatory document for the protection of fundamental human rights under EU law.

Invited Lecturer Tamta Zaalishvili provided an outline of the foundational principles and key institutions of the EU, which include the European Commission, EU Parliament, European Court of Justice and European Central Bank. She pointed out the supranational nature of these institutions and explained how this impacts the achievement of EU’s key objectives for advancing the rule of law.

TSU Assistant Lecturer Nana Mchedlidze discussed the jurisprudence of the European Court of Justice with respect to the Hungarian Foreign Agents Law, which was held not to have been in compliance with EU laws.

The final panelist was TSU Invited Lecturer Paramjeet Berwal who explained the differences between EU legislative instruments such as regulations, directives and decisions.

Exploration of the EU integration's impact on Georgian law and society is the theme of a series of panel discussions the Program plans in partnership with TSU.

By showcasing the importance of EU integration in shaping legal frameworks, these gatherings will contribute to the broader goal of advancing democratic values among the student population, while also strengthening the rule of law.