European People's Party asks EU for concrete date for visa policy with Ukraine, Georgia

Ahead of the Eastern Partnership (EaP) Summit taking place in Riga today and tomorrow, members of the European People's Party (EPP) Group have addressed EU leaders to offer a concrete date for visa facilitation agreements with Ukraine and Georgia.

This was written in a media release published by EPP today on their webpage.

EPP Group is the largest political group in the European Parliament. 

A visa-free regime would offer tangible benefits to the people, by which the EU would show its long-term commitment to the region. The EU should firmly stay the course in strengthening relations with its Eastern neighbours and to make concrete political commitments,” noted the press release.

"We choose to reinforce this policy because this reflects the will of our partners, because this is in the EU’s fundamental interest and because if we do not stand up and defend freedom and democracy in our neighborhood, our own freedom, democracy and prosperity will be at risk," said Jacek Saryusz-Wolski, EPP Group Vice Chairman for Foreign Affairs and member of the EU Parliament.

EPP Group Vice Chairwoman for Neighbourhood Policy and Euronest Sandra Kalniete added: "the Summit has to send a strong political signal on the European prospects of the countries that have the long-term ambition to apply for EU membership." 

"These prospects can be the key driver for democratic development and modernisation of partner countries. While European prospects offer reform incentives over a longer-term perspective, visa liberalisation and a visa free regime can and should be achieved within a short time. And the Summit has to make a political commitment to it," she said.

Manfred Weber, Chair the EPP in the European Parliament responded to the call of the EPP via his official Twitter feed.

Countries in our #EasternPartnership can count on our support and solidarity #RigaSummit@EPPGroup 1/2

— Manfred Weber (@ManfredWeber) May 21, 2015

We expect from them that they continue reforms in the economy, institutions and civil society #EasternPartnership#RigaSummit@EPPGroup 2/2

— Manfred Weber (@ManfredWeber) May 21, 2015

The final declaration of the Riga EaP Summit will be signed at the plenary session on May 22.

Meanwhile yesterday - one day before the Riga Summit - European Council President Donald Tusk made a clear massage in his interview with Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty that Georgia will not receive a visa free travel regime with the EU at the upcoming EaP Summit.

He did say, however "both Ukrainian and Georgian citizens would enjoy visa free travel to the EU's passport free Schengen zone as early as next year.”

Meanwhile 98 members of European Parliament addressed the heads of governments of EU member states in an open letter to support the European perspective of Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine at the Riga Summit.

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.