Parliament sends letter to EU about importance of visa free regime

Lawmakers in Georgia have agreed on approaching the European Union (EU) about the country’s desire to travel freely to Europe and the actions carried out to ensure the country meets all necessary prerequisites for a visa-free regime.

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.

The appeal was initiated by Free Democrats member Viktor Dolidze and shared by the ruling Georgian Dream coalition. The statement was supported by 76 lawmakers out of the 150-seat Parliament. 

The statement highlighted the successful cooperation between Georgia and the EU, the importance of the Visa Liberalisation Action Plan (VLAP) and the successful reforms Georgia had carried out to adhere to all VLAP obligations. 

The Georgian side stressed it had fulfilled all its VLAP obligations to an "excellent” standard and urged the CoE to react positively towards Georgia in its report.

In this sense, Parliament of Georgia stressed its certainty that the CoE statement would be following by "timely approvals” from the European Parliament and European Commission. A political consensus was also required alongside technical confirmation before the country could practically implement a visa-free regime with the EU.

Visa liberalisation with the EU will support the welfare and reintegration of the Georgian population living in the currently occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia),” read Parliament’s statement. 

Such a solution will also clarify the Georgian-EU fruitful cooperation and the benefits provided through the partnership.”

The statement also included an appeal to the current Georgian leadership to continue an information campaign to inform the local population of the rights, benefits and obligations foreseen within the visa liberalisation agreement.