Minister of Justice, Rati Bregadze met today with Head of the Training Department of the Austrian Penitentiary Service, Oberst Martin Hoffmann, within the framework of his official visit to Austria. At the meeting, the Minister noted that providing a strong, safe and human rights-based environment is a priority for the agency. According to him, within the framework of the reform of the penitentiary and probation systems, corrections are made considering the best international practice. In this regard, the sharing of European experience is of particular importance.

Rati Bregadze also discussed training modules with Oberst Martin Hoffman. The Minister of Justice expressed interest in the Austrian experience of educational trainings in the direction of training of social workers, psychologists, and medical personnel. The Minister of Justice stated at the meeting that the agency invests significant resources in improving the professional skills of its employees, which are being implemented with the Training Center of Justice.

At the end of the meeting, the Minister of Justice expressed his hope that cooperation between Georgia and Austria will become even more intensive, which acquires special importance in the light of the country's European aspirations and perspective.

The meeting was attended by the Deputy Ministers of Justice, Buba Lomuashvili and Tornike Cheishvili, Head of the Special Penitentiary Service, Nika Tshvarashvili and Ambassador of Georgia to the Republic of Austria, Ketevan Tsikhelashvili.

This document ensures the strengthening of mutual cooperation between Georgia and Austria in the field of justice, rule of law and protection of human rights.

The deepening of partnership relations between the two countries includes the sharing of experience in the areas of mobile and electronic state services, rehabilitation and re-socialization of convicts, management of sports, educational and employment programs in the penitentiary institutions.

The memorandum also envisions cooperation in the field of convergence with EU legislation, mutual legal assistance in civil, commercial and criminal cases.

Before signing the memorandum, Rati Bregadze spoke with his Austrian colleague, Alma Zadich about organization of the Georgian-Austrian legal forum, which will be hosted alternately by Georgia and Austria every year. The conversation touched on the encouragement of student exchange programs, which in the future will contribute to the law-making process based on evidence and research-analysis.

Rati Bregadze informed his Austrian counterpart about the priorities of the Ministry, which are reflected in the 10-year development strategy of the agency. The deepening of cooperation in the direction of convergence with the European Union legislation, effective law-making process, strengthening of international relations is gaining even more importance on the path of Georgia's European integration.

During the meeting with his Austrian colleague, Rati Bregedze noted that a special electronic program will be launched in the near future, which will ensure a quick and high-quality implementation of the process of harmonization with the European Union legislation.

Another area of strengthening partnership relations will be bilateral legal relations.

The meeting was attended by members of the delegation of the Ministry of Justice of Georgia and the Ambassador of Georgia to Austria.