From 22–24 July 2025, ETUCE European Director Jelmer Evers visited Georgia to reinforce ETUCE’s solidarity with its member organisation ESFTUG and support the role of teachers and trade unions in the country’s democratic and European path.
During meetings with ESFTUG, Evers was briefed on the union’s achievements in social dialogue, legislative advocacy, and legal defence of teachers’ rights. He praised ESFTUG’s work on professional development and the “Professional Teachers’ Consultative Council,” noting it helps “ensure the strengthening of teachers’ voices in the ongoing education reform processes.”

He also met with a local ESFTUG leader who had been dismissed for trade union activity. The leader confirmed: “As a result of ETUCE’s engagement and advocacy... the rights of ESFTUG leader and the primary trade union organization in that school were restored.”
On 23 July, Evers joined an ETUC delegation in Tbilisi, meeting with government officials and the EU Ambassador. The delegation urged the EU to ensure that “social dialogue and the role of trade unions must be respected at all stages of accession talks,” and raised concerns about repressive legislation, including the Foreign Agents Act and amendments to the Law on Public Service.

ESFTUG highlighted its role in the Enlargement Candidate Members initiative of the EESC, stating: “Our engagement is grounded in ESFTUG’s experience and best practices, which are increasingly recognized as a model for effective social partnership in the region.”

Concluding the visit, Jelmer Evers praised ESFTUG President Maia Kobakhidze as “not only the leader of Georgia’s education trade unions but also the first recipient of the European Outstanding Woman Leader Award in 2018,” and called on “all ETUCE member organizations to express full solidarity with Georgia.”