Council of Europe, European Parliament agree on Georgia-EU visa waiver
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The European Parliament and the Council of Europe have reached a political agreement today regarding Georgia's visa liberalisation with the European Union (EU), announced the official Twitter account of the Council of Europe under the Slovakian presidency.
The deal means Georgia is very close to being granted visa free travel within the EU's Schengen Zone.
Good news for #Georgia's citizens: political agreement b/w @EUCouncil & @Europarl_EN on #Georgia visa lib. Next step @EUCouncil soon. pic.twitter.com/uCzsyd7rz4
— EU2016SK (@eu2016sk) December 13, 2016
The decision came after today’s trialateral meeting in Brussels, Belgium on Georgia’s visa waiver involving the European Parliament, European Council and European Commission.
Miroslav Lajcak, Slovakia's Foreign Minister and current EU Council presidency holder, said prior to the meeting that he believed only one tripartite meeting would be enough because "there are no obstacles and everything is agreed [regarding Georgia-EU visa free travel]”.
After today's agreement, Georgia's visa free travel to the EU will be discussed in the Council of Europe by the Committee of the Permanent Representatives of the Governments of Member States to the EU (Coreper). This meeting is expected to take place before December 20, before a final vote is held in the European Parliament.
Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili immediately responded to the "successful visa liberalisation trialogue”.
Successful #Georgia#visaliberalisation trialogue - Looking fwd to final vote in January. Thanks to @Europarl_EN@EUCouncil@EU_Commission
— Giorgi Kvirikashvili (@KvirikashviliGi) December 13, 2016
European Parliamentarian Mariya Gabriel, who is a rapporteur of Georgia’s visa liberalistaion, also shared the news on her official Twitter account.
Good news:we reached a deal wt the @EUCouncil@eu2016sk for #visa liberalisation wt #Georgia! Shared commitment to deliver asap! @EPPGroup
— Mariya Gabriel (@GabrielMariya) December 13, 2016
We are entering the final phase towards visa exemption for Georgian citizens. It was extremely important to reach a deal today, to move forward in parallel with the revision of the suspension mechanism and to be ready for a simultaneous entry into force," said Gabriel.
I am glad that the Council backed our commitment to deliver [a result] as soon as possible," she added.
The Council of Europe and the European Parliament recently agreed on certain rules of the Suspension Mechanism, which was the last precondition for Georgia’s visa waiver.
The EU-Georgia visa liberalisation dialogue started in 2012. By the end of 2015 the European Commission had concluded that the Georgia had fulfilled all benchmarks for a visa waiver.
Once Georgia obtained visa liberalisation it's citizens will be able to enter the EU's Schengen Zone without a visa for 90 days in any 180 day period, provided they hold a biometric passport.
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.
“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.
European Parliament Member 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 EU.
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.
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.
The European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) has given yet another green light to Georgian visa liberalisation.
Previously it was believed Georgia would receive the long-awaited EU visa waiver by the end of April 2017, but now European Parliament (EP) members are saying this could happen as early as the beginning of March.
After meeting Georgia’s Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze earlier this afternoon, Jagland took to Twitter to say, "I offered our support to Georgia's constitutional, judicial and media law reforms”.
The Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Georgia and the Council of Europe have presented the results of their eight joint projects carried out in 2015-2017 in Georgia.