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In the final, sixth stage, as of July 6, gambling businesses, entertainment services, hotels, educational institutions and all other types of businesses will resume operations.
2.5 EU Council approves 3bn macro-financial aid to help partners cope with coronavirus
The European Council adopted a decision on May 20 to provide macro-financial assistance (MFA) of up to €3bn to ten enlargement and neighbourhood partners to help them cope with the economic fallout of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The European Commission proposed the €3bn MFA package on April 22. Financial assistance will be provided as loans on highly favourable terms, the Council said.
Among Western Balkans countries, Albania will receive €180mn, Bosnia & Herzegovina - €250mn, North Macedonia - €160mn, Kosovo - €100mn and Montenegro - €60mn. Serbia was not included in the financial package. Ukraine will receive the biggest chunk of the assistance package, €1.2bn. The EU also allocated money for Georgia (€150mn), Jordan (€200mn), Moldova (€100mn) and Tunisia (€600mn).
The EU assistance will help the countries to cover their immediate financing needs which have increased as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Together with the support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the funds will help enhance macroeconomic stability and create space to allow resources to be allocated towards protecting citizens and to mitigating the negative socio-economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic.
The MFA funds will be made available for a period of 12 months.
2.6 Polls & Sociology
Georgia down three places on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index
Performance of Georgia’s government and other public institutions in poll weakens further
Georgia has fallen three places on the 2019 edition of Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) to 44th of 180 assessed countries.
Its points score declined by two to 56 compared to the 2018 edition. Nevertheless, in a commentary on the performances of countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Transparency International said: “Only three countries score above the global average: Georgia (56), Belarus (45) and Montenegro (45). At the bottom of the region are Turkmenistan (19), Uzbekistan (25) and Tajikistan (25).”
In the 2017, edition Georgia placed 46th and last year the NGO warned the country faced “democratic backsliding”.
Georgia is moving in the wrong direction, according to 57% of respondents in the latest poll conducted by the National Democratic Institute (NDI).
The conclusions of the poll also indicate that the perceived performance of the country’s parliament, government and all other public institutions have constantly deteriorated over the past several years.
9 GEORGIA Country Report July 2020 www.intellinews.com
