On July 30, 2024, IDFI hosted an online lecture and discussion on the topic: "Anti-Corruption Reforms on the Path to European Integration: International Initiatives, Commitments, and Georgia's Progress." The event was held with the support of USAID Mational Governance Program, within the framework of the project "Pilot Initiatives for Youth Engagement and Mentoring in Public Policy."

The purpose of the lecture and discussion was to examine Georgia's international commitments and involvement in international initiatives in the fight against corruption. Additionally, it aimed to highlight the importance of good governance and anti-corruption reforms on the path to European integration, the recommendations made by the European Commission in this regard, the process of their implementation, and the existing needs.

The event was moderated by Giorgi Kldiashvili, co-founder and the Executive Director of IDFI, who has over 10 years of experience in the fight against corruption.

Participants were addressed by invited speakers, including:

 - Zurab Sanikidze - Head of Rule of Law and Human Rights Department / Programme Manager, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE);

 - Rusudan Mikhelidze - Head of the Monitoring Program of the Anti-Corruption Network, OECD;

 - Sandro Kevkhishvili - Anti-Corruption Program Manager, Transparency International Georgia.

In his speech, Zurab Sanikidze emphasized the international organizations that provide assessments regarding countries. He added that the role of these organizations in preventing corruption is crucial, as they create international standards and help countries implement unified approaches. This should be the starting point for every country's anti-corruption efforts.

He specifically named and reviewed the international organizations working in this field:

 - The European Union - from which Georgia received a nine-point condition along with candidate status, which includes anti-corruption reforms and achieving anti-corruption institutional independence.

 - The Council of Europe - whose primary areas of work include the rule of law, anti-corruption, and human rights. Attention was also drawn to the opinions provided by the Venice Commission, the Council of Europe's advisory body, on anti-corruption issues. He also highlighted the importance of GRECO's (Group of States against Corruption, Council of Europe) mandate in establishing international standards.

 - The OECD - Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, which has created an anti-corruption network in which Georgia also participates.

 - OSCE - Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, which includes ODIHR, which has provided many recommendations on Georgian legislation, both independently and in conjunction with the Venice Commission.

In conclusion, the speaker noted that how Georgia implements international commitments and aligns its legislation and practices with international standards will reflect in Georgia's assessments and influence its relationships with other countries.

The next speaker, Rusudan Mikhelidze, spoke about the contribution of the OECD, as a single organization, in the fight against corruption. Georgia and most of the EU aspirant states are not members of the OECD, but this organization has both global and regional programs aimed at spreading international and its own standards in these countries. This includes the Anti-Corruption Network, whose operational area covers Central Asia and Eastern Europe, and Georgia joined this initiative from the start. She also focused on the organization's standards and highlighted which of them pertain to Georgia. She discussed the Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, within which a group of states meets four times a year to review how countries are approaching the convention's standards and addressing existing issues. Finally, she noted that since 2021, there has been a joint program between the EU and the OECD aimed at supporting anti-corruption reforms in countries on the path to EU membership.

The third speaker, Sandro Kevkhishvili, discussed the challenges and needs seen from the perspective of the civil sector in terms of anti-corruption reforms in Georgia. He emphasized the importance of a broad perception of corruption, specifically the need for comprehensive approaches rather than isolated reforms. According to him, the current reality in Georgia shows that petty bribery is less common and that Georgia is ahead of many more developed countries in this area. However, there is a problem with mechanisms to prevent high-ranking officials from engaging in corrupt activities. He also noted that according to Transparency International Georgia's official assessment, state capture is observed in the country, which he described as an extremely complex and damaging form of corruption.

After the speakers' presentations, the event continued in a discussion format, giving participants the opportunity to ask questions. Participants' questions addressed the Anti-Corruption Bureau and its activities. It was suggested that it would be better if the head of the Bureau was not appointed by the Prime Minister. Additionally, during the discussion, there was interest towards GRECO's activities and the principles of filling out declarations, on which the speakers provided detailed information.