NEWS

Georgia and Ukraine will get visa free regime in mid-2016, German newspaper reads

Georgia is waiting for a positive report about the country's visa liberalisation efforts. Photo by N.Alavidze/Agenda.ge.

Agenda.ge, 09 Dec 2015 - 11:34, Tbilisi,Georgia

The European Union (EU) is planning to introduce visa free travel with Georgia and Ukraine by mid of 2016, reports German newspaper Die Welt citing an unidentified EU diplomat.

Both countries will get visa free travel by the middle period of 2016,” said the source, adding Ukraine still needed to show improvements, particularly in combatting corruption.

Several days ago Georgia’s Parliament Speaker David Usupashvili said Georgia had completed all its obligations and was now waiting for a "positive report” from the Commission of Europe (CoE) about Georgia’s fulfilment of its Visa Liberalisation Action Plan (VLAP), which is a necessary precondition to allow a country visa free travel with EU member states.

The report has a technical nature and if positive of Georgia, a political solution should be made to grant the country visa liberalisation.

Georgia’s PM reveals his expectations ahead of visa liberalisation progress report

18 Nov 2015

Visa free travel is the "logical next step” in Georgia’s European Union (EU) integration journey, says Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili.

EU envoy: European migrant crisis will not hamper Georgia’s visa liberalisation

16 Sep 2015

The European migrant crisis will not hamper Georgia’s visa liberalisation pace, says a European Union (EU) envoy in Georgia.

Visa liberalisation: Mogherini hopes for “good news” for Georgia

10 Nov 2015

European Union (EU) top official Federica Mogherini hopes Georgia will soon receive "good news” about its visa liberaliation ambitions.

EU top official: “Georgia fulfilled many key obligations to get visa liberalisation”

10 Nov 2015

"Georgia has fulfilled many significant obligations and should keep following the same path in order to get positive recommendation at the end of the year in terms of visa liberalisation,” believes European Union (EU) top official Federica Mogherini.

Estonia optimistic of Georgia’s visa liberalisation in 2016

09 Nov 2015

Estonia believes Georgia and the European Union (EU) will soon reach an agreement on visa free travel.

Georgia’s Foreign Minister: “We fulfilled all visa obligations and more”

10 Dec 2015

Georgia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs has high expectations of an upcoming Council of Europe (CoE) report because the Ministry has fulfilled all its obligations necessary to gain a visa-free regime.

Parliament sends letter to EU about importance of visa free regime

10 Dec 2015

Parliament of Georgia today adopted a statement that will be sent to relevant structures of the EU prior to the December 15 release of a Council of Europe (CoE) report whether Georgia had met all its obligations towards visa liberalisation with the EU.

EU looks to postpone release of Georgia visa-free progress report

14 Dec 2015

The release of visa liberalisation progress reports for Georgia and Ukraine could be postponed. The documents were scheduled to be published tomorrow but the release stood under a question mark after a press briefing by one of the European Commission speakers earlier this afternoon.

Georgia’s EU visa progress report postponed until late December

15 Dec 2015

The release of visa liberalisation progress reports for Georgia and Ukraine has been postponed but officials say the important document will be released before the end of the year. The European Union (EU) said the reports – due to be released today – had been delayed for "only technical reasons” and the reports will be published in the next two weeks.

Estonian Foreign Minister: Georgia is ready for visa freedom with EU

15 Dec 2015

The delay of Georgia’s visa liberalisation progress report had nothing to do with Georgia but was the fault of Ukraine, officials confirm. Kaljurand said Ukraine "has not filled all technical requirements but Georgia may expect a positive outcome”.

EU will release Georgia’s visa progress report tomorrow – Wall Street Journal

17 Dec 2015

International United States-based daily newspaper The Wall Street Journal claims the Council of Europe (CoE) will release its visa liberalisation report for Georgia and Ukraine tomorrow.