“Suspension Mechanism agreed, we can vote for Georgia-EU visa waiver next week,” MEP says
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European Parliament Member (MEP) Kati Piri announced on Twitter that European structures have agreed on the suspension mechanism, which was the last precondition in place for Georgia to be granted a visa waiver to the European Union (EU).
The EU had earlier stressed the suspension mechanism was "a must" and Georgia would not be granted its long-awaited visa waiver to the Schengen Zone without it.
Finally agreement on suspension mechanism, so we can vote next week for visa free travel for Georgians and Ukrainians.
— Kati Piri (@KatiPiri) December 7, 2016
- The suspension mechanism is a tool that allows each EU member state to request the European Commission to temporarily suspend the visa waiver for nationals of a certain country in specific circumstances, including a substantial and sudden increase in the number of irregular migrants, unfounded asylum requests or rejected readmission applications.
Georgia’s Ambassador to the EU Natalie Sabanadze confirmed an agreement had been made between the Council of Europe and the European Parliament regarding the suspension mechanism.
Sabanadze told Georgian media the two European structures today agreed on a "compromised version” of the suspension mechanism that was presented by the Council of Europe.
She added a major topic of controversy concerned how long European member states could address the suspension mechanism without the involvement of the European Parliament.
An agreement has been achieved between the European Parliament and the Council of Europe that the suspension mechanism may be active for nine months by EU member states and if the visa-free travel continues after the term expires, the European Parliament will get involved in the process,” Sabanadze said.
She added after additional consultations and discussions within European Parliament, the agreement may be voted at the European Parliament’s plenary session next week.
Meanwhile Vice Speaker of Parliament of Georgia Tamar Chugoshvili was excited Georgia could soon finally be granted a visa waiver to the EU.
No more obstacles that can hamper Georgia-EU visa-free travel [remain],” she said.
The absence of an agreement on the suspension mechanism was the major technical obstacle for the Georgia-EU visa waiver. I want to congratulate the Georgian people on today's good news,” she added.
Parliamentary Majority leader Archil Talakvadze said now an agreement on the suspension mechanism had been reached, European Parliament must vote for Georgia-EU visa liberalisation.
He stressed Georgia enjoyed the "full support" of European Parliament in this regard.
President of the European Council Donald Tusk has sent a letter to President of the European Parliament Marti Schulz, stressing the importance of granting visa-free regime to Georgia and Ukraine.
The European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini says she personally looked forward to Georgia's visa liberalisation with the EU.
The European Union (EU) and Georgia held the third Association Council meeting in today; the first such meeting since the Georgia-EU Association Agreement came into full play earlier this year.
President of the Council of Europe (CoE) Donald Tusk is wholeheartedly supporting Georgia as it moves through the final stages of visa liberalisation with the European Union (EU) and says the country should soon be offered a visa waiver.
“EU keeps its promise when a country delivers”
Visa free travel for Georgian citizens to the European Union is finally in sight after an agreement between the Council of Europe and the European Parliament over the suspension mechanism was reached.
Georgia’s Prime Minister hopes all procedures related to the country's visa liberalisation will be finalised in the nearest future meaning Georgian citizens will be granted a visa waiver to the EU’s Schengen Zone.
Georgia's visa waiver will be discussed in Brussels this evening at a special meeting involving the European Parliament, European Council and European Commission.
The European Parliament and the Council of Europe have reached a political agreement today regarding Georgia's visa liberalisation with the European Union, it was announced today.
What’s next?
Georgia's Foreign Ministry is welcoming the political agreement reached within the EU to grant Georgian citizens visa free travel to the EU, and explains what procedures remain for the agreement to actually come into force.
“Georgians will travel to EU visa free from April”
A European Parliament member and co-rapporteur of Georgia’s visa liberalisation says the Council of Europe has suggested Georgia will receive a visa waiver before the end of April 2017.
Green light for Georgia’s visa waiver
Today the European Parliament officially approved the rules of the Suspension Mechanism at its plenary session - the last thing standing in Georgia's way for visa liberalisation to the European Union.
Georgia’s Foreign Minister Mikhel Janelidze says only technical procedures remain before Georgia is officially granted a visa waiver to the European Union.