The newly elected Parliament is currently deliberating on the formation of the Group of Trust of the Parliamentary Defense and Security Committee. The Group of Trust is an important institution, the function of which is to control the secret activities and expenses of the defense and law enforcement agencies. The State Security Service of Georgia is accountable to the Group of Trust. Moreover, the Group of Trust has access to information that includes details on security issues with international partners of Georgia.

Due to this, it is essential that the Group of Trust is composed of deputies with the relevant competency, biographical background and reputation. Regrettably, the Parliament abolished the need for voting for the Group of Trust members under the 8th convocation. This has negatively impacted the political weight and legitimacy of the Group of Trust and should be viewed as a step back in the democratic control of state security institutions.

According to Georgian legislation, the members of the Group of Trust should undergo a background check as defined by the law. Moreover, along with the other members of the committee, they will have to participate in events under the framework of NATO, thus requiring a background check by NATO security standards as well.

Due to this, the Coalition for Euro-Atlantic Georgia calls upon the Georgian Parliament for the following:

• To thoroughly observe the formation of the committee and Group of Trust, in an effort to avoid any damage to the security interests of the state
• To restore the appointment of Group of Trust members through voting and form a new Group of Trust based on this rule
• Based on the memorandum of understanding signed between the Defense and Security Committee and NGOs in 2013, to support the democratic and civil control over the security sector and give civil society the space to conduct monitoring over the processes, as well as be a contributor to the development of the security sector. 

The Coalition for Euro-Atlantic Georgia is issuing this statement partly in response to the information spread by the media that Member of the Parliament Emzar Kvitsiani is allegedly a candidate for the membership of the Group of Trust. Whether or not these rumors are true, our recommendations will still have a positive impact in any similar situations that may occur in the future. The Coalition is prepared to actively work with the Parliament on all issues related to the Euro-Atlantic integration of Georgia.

1. Transparency International Georgia
2. Civil Development Agency
3. International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy
4. Open Society Georgia Foundation
5. Atlantic Council of Georgia
6. Georgian Farmers Association
7. Institute for Development of Freedom of Information
8. The Economic Policy Research Center
9. Green Alternative
10. Georgian Center for Security and Development
11. Media Development Foundation
12. UN Association of Georgia
13. Society and Banks
14. Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies
15. Georgian Democracy Initiative
16. Georgian Institute of Politics
17. Regional Centre for Strategic Studies
18. In Depth Reporting and Advocacy Center
19. Voice from Georgia
20. Liberal Academy Tbilisi
21. Union Sapari
22. Georgian Reforms Associates
23. World Experience for Georgia