Ruling party official calls for adoption of European-style legislation on transparency of foreign influence

Mamuka Mdinaradze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party in the Parliament, on Monday advocated for the adoption of the European-style legislation on the transparency of foreign influence, emphasising the need to harmonise the Georgian law with the European Commission's directive.

The Committee on Legal Issues of the Georgian Parliament on Monday started deliberating on the bill on transparency of foreign influence submitted by the parliamentary majority, aiming to shed light on external influences on domestic affairs and to enhance transparency in political and civil society activities.

The bill provides for a requirement that organisations receiving foreign funding publish their annual financial reports.

“We should adopt the European-style legislation and harmonise it as much as possible with the European Commission’s directive, which has not yet been adopted, but there is a French law [on foreign influence], which has already been adopted by the French Parliament”, Mdinaradze said.

Mdinaradze refuted claims made by the opponents regarding the transparency bill, highlighting alleged inaccuracies in their arguments.

“They claim that the bill applies to individuals - it is a lie, it does not apply to individuals. They claim that the bill prohibits the active right to vote - there is no such thing. They claim that the bill prohibits pedagogical activity - there is no such thing. They claim that the bill restricts the right to property and financial transactions - there is no such thing. They claim that the bill imposes the obligation to be referred to as an agent of influence - there is nothing similar in the bill. They claim that the bill imposes criminal liability. No such thing envisaged in our bill”, Mdinaradze noted.

Mdinaradze further emphasised the importance of factual discourse, inviting constructive engagement from all stakeholders.

The bill on the transparency of foreign influence aims to ensure that NGOs disclose their annual financial reports, with penalties limited to financial sanctions for non-compliance.

The European Commission last year adopted a Defence of Democracy package, ahead of the 2024 European elections. The central piece of this package is a legislative proposal that will enhance transparency and democratic accountability of interest representation activities on behalf of third countries which are aimed at influencing policies, decision making and the democratic space.