European leaders happy for Georgia
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As Georgia celebrates the start of its visa liberalisation process with the European Union (EU), leaders in Europe are voicing their support for Georgia's success.
Heads of European states and EU high officials have taken to Twitter to congratulate Georgia, Ukraine and Kosovo on the release of their positive visa liberalisation progress reports.
"A good day for Europe” was how EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini assessed December 18.
Visa liberalisation reports for #Georgia, #Ukraine and #Kosovo adopted today. A good day for Europe.
— Federica Mogherini (@FedericaMog) December 18, 2015
EU Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn congratulated the three countries and said "reforms bring real benefits to your citizens!”
Congratulations to #Georgia, #Ukraine+#Kosovo for positive reports on #visaliberalisation. Reforms bring real benefits to your citizens!
— Johannes Hahn (@JHahnEU) December 18, 2015
"Long awaited and deserved news” was how Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius assrssed yesterday's release of the positive progress reports.
Long awaited & deserved news- positive progress reports by @EU_Commission for #Ukraine#Georgia & #Kosovo readiness for #visa free
— Linas Linkevicius (@LinkeviciusL) December 18, 2015
Meanwhile Lithuanian President Dalia Gribauskaite expressed her satisfaction with the result. She also expected Georgia would be granted actual visa-free travel in the first half of 2016.
Congratulations to #Georgia and #Ukraine - on good progress' evaluation by #EU_Commission regarding visa-free regime with #EU
— Dalia GrybauskaitÄ (@Grybauskaite_LT) December 18, 2015
Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics also welcomed the European Commission’s positive reports and said: "EU decision should be taken with no delay.”
I welcome @EU_Commission positive report on visa liberalisation for #Georgia, #Ukraine & #Kosovo, EU decision should be taken with no delay
— Edgars RinkÄviÄs (@edgarsrinkevics) December 18, 2015
Georgia sees the European Union (EU) visa liberalisation as not only a foreign policy success but also an opportunity for the country’s unification. Georgian authorities believed now more people from Georgia’s Russian-occupied regions will ask for a Georgian passport.
Tbilisi celebrates the release of a positive progress report on Georgia's implementation of its Visa Liberalisation Action Plan (VLAP). The European Commission today released the report that said Georgia met all the benchmarks of the VLAP.
Georgia meets all the benchmarks of its Visa Liberalisation Action Plan (VLAP), meaning in early 2016 the European Union (EU) will propose a legislative amendment to let Georgian citizens travel to the EU visa free.
The Government stressed the successful completion of its VLAP obligations was thanks to joint efforts by all state structures.
Georgia takes measures to attract more European investments and tight economic, trade and investment ties with the European Union (EU).