The EU's partnership with Georgia brings with it responsibilities on Tbilisi's part to protect and strengthen the country's fragile democracy, ALDE spokesperson on Georgia Norica Nicolai MEP said today ahead of a meeting between European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili.

Ms Nicolai called on Van Rompuy to have a frank and open discussion about widespread concerns about the political climate in Georgia ahead of parliamentary elections in October. She said that the EU's continued engagement with Georgia required actions  not only words from the Georgian government on enabling transparent democratic competition.

The meeting in Tbilisi between Van Rompuy and Saakashvili takes place on the same day as the European Parliament will debate the current political tension in Georgia, and Ms Nicolai said the debate would be an opportunity to emphasise the EU's expectations of the Georgian government with regard to organising a free and fair vote.

Two  of the member parties of the main opposition coalition Georgian Dream - the Republican Party of Georgia and Free Democrats from Georgia  is allied to the ALDE political family. Ms Nicolai and the ALDE group are this week welcoming delegates from Georgian Dream to Strasbourg.

The Georgian Dream coalition has alleged that the Saakashvili government is engaging in an orchestrated campaign of intimidation, abuse of judicial process and attacks on press freedom. Leading human rights organisations have expressed concerns about developments in Georgia and the UN special rapporteur on the rights of peaceful assembly and association recently tabled a highly critical report focusing on Georgia.

Ms Nicolai said:

"These elections will be a real test of Georgia's democracy. We all hope the country will move down the road towards a more mature political environment and a stronger democracy but some of the signs from Tbilisi are worrying.

"Van Rompuy should use this opportunity to be  adamantly clear  with Saakashvili about the EU's expectations of Georgia. Saakashvili himself came to power thanks to a peaceful democratic uprising so he has a special responsibility for the conduct of these elections.

"The ALDE Group initiatited today's debate in the European Parliament  on Georgia to take stock of progress that Georgia has achieved in transposing European Union acquis into Georgian law and expressing clearly the expectations for the elections to come.We have high hopes for Georgia but the EU should be clear that a free and fair election is of paramount importance for Georgia's future European perspective."