The Europeanization of Georgian Consumer Law: A Pathway to Harmonization

Abstract

Abstract On March 29, 2022, the Parliament of Georgia passed the Law on Protection of Consumer Rights, with its primary provisions taking effect on June 1, 2022. By enacting the Law, Georgia has largely fulfilled its commitment under the Association Agreement with the European Union (EU) to implement EU directives governing consumer protection into its national legislation. However, it is essential to recognize that this reform marks just the initial phase of approximation. Challenges persist, especially in relation to European directives concerning the regulation of the digital marketplace. This article aims to provide a concise overview of the reform facilitated by the adoption of the new Law. Moreover, given that only one year has passed since the implementation of the Law, there remains a lack of practical experience or judicial precedent to assess its positive or negative impacts. Academic studies in this direction are also lacking. Consequently, the discussion in this article primarily centers on the novelty and challenges presented by the Law in the light of EU directives.