European Parliament Members voice support for Georgia’s European future

About a hundred members of European Parliament (MEPs) are addressing heads of government of EU member states to support the European perspective of Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine at this week’s Eastern Partnership (EaP) Summit in Riga, Latvia.

The joint statement signed by 98 MEPs expressed hope that the Riga Summit, which is due to begin tomorrow, would voice "unequivocal and determined” solidarity for the three countries and their pro-European agendas.

"In particular we believe that the Riga Summit Declaration should be clear, strong and forward-looking and should concentrate, amongst other things, on further progress and high ambitions of three Associated Partners of the EU - Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine,” the statement read.

In addition, the letter stated the EU should set definite deadlines for the completion of the Visa Liberalisation Action Plan (VLAP) of Georgia and Ukraine.

"Following a decision taken at the Vilnius Summit in 2013 in response to the progress made by the Moldovan authorities, Moldovan citizens are now able to travel without visas throughout the Schengen Area. In light of the many positive consequences of this decision, we urge the Heads of State and Government of the European Union, during their meeting in Riga, to commit to extending the visa free regime to the citizens of Georgia and Ukraine,” said the letter.

The MEPs also noted the EU’s commitment to EaP countries had become "more urgent”, as Russia had placed enormous military, political, economic and propaganda pressure on Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine over the last three years.

"We believe that the European Union should send a positive signal with regard to these countries’ future membership in the European Union. Opening the perspective of such membership would represent a significant incentive to further democratic reforms as well as sending an appropriate and powerful signal in the currently strained geopolitical situation,” the statement said.

At the end of the letter, the 96 MEPs said they "looked forward” to seeing decisive action during the EaP Summit with a view towards offering visa liberalisation to Georgia and Ukraine and the opening of a European perspective for Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.

Earlier this month a joint statement was sent to EU top officials by the Georgian President, Prime Minister and Parliament Speaker.

In the May 8 letter, the Georgian leaders expressed hope that Georgia would gain a visa free regime with the EU at the EaP Summit.

A similar request was voiced by more than 400 civil society organisations from EaP countries one week ago.

The Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (EaP CSF) statement read that visa free travel to the Schengen area, which citizens of Moldova had been enjoying since April 2014, was one of the most tangible EaP achievements and should be extended to Georgia and Ukraine - the countries who signed Association Agreements with the EU last year.