Germany optimistic of Georgia’s visa liberalisation
Tweet 
Share
"There is no reason to expect that the European Commission experts’ report on Georgia will not be positive," says German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier about the upcoming report that will determine whether or not Georgians will enjoy visa free travel to countries in the Schengen zone.
Steinmeier met Georgia’s Foreign Minister Tamar Beruchashvili in Berlin, Germany today where the Georgian official is paying a working visit.
The German Minister said visa liberalisation seemed to be a very important issue for the Georgian side at the upcoming Riga Summit.
"I should admit that the work Georgia got done during preparation for the visa liberalisation process was really impressive, so I don’t think there is any reason to be skeptical towards the report that will be finished soon,” Steinmeier said.
Earlier the European Union (EU) officials said the visa liberalisation decision would be based on Georgia’s recent achievements and these achievements needed to be reflected in the report. The report is currently being prepared by European Commission experts, who had travelled to Tbilisi to review the situation.
The Eastern Partnership (EaP) Summit will be held on May 21 and 22 in Riga, Latvia. The report will be ready by this date.
Meanwhile, during today’s meeting the two Ministers talked about the hard situation in Georgia’s Russian occupied regions Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia). The German side reconfirmed its firm supports towards Georgia’s territorial integrity and urged Russia to back off from the Georgian land.
This was the second day of Beruchashvili’s two-day Germany visit. Yesterday she met a number of German high officials. Read more about those meetings here.
Will Georgia be granted a visa free regime with the European Union (EU) at the Riga Summit in May? The outcome is still unclear, as the EU noted it was waiting for an evaluation by European experts before it will make a final decision.
The six Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries are looking forward to the Riga Summit to see concrete steps taken that will get them closer to the European Union (EU), however the EU has not yet decided what to offer its partners.
Germany’s Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier is coming to Georgia today for his second working visit this year.
"We believe that Germany and France will effectively promote Georgia’s full integration into the European space”, said Georgia’s Foreign Minister after meeting with the French and German Foreign Ministers in Tbilisi today.
Germany supports Georgia's European aspirations – these were the words spoken by German Chancellor Angela Merkel when she spoke to Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili in a phone conversation today.
Georgia and Germany are cementing their ties with the announcement of 2017 as the Year of Friendship between Georgia and Germany.
Georgia’s efforts to achieve visa free travel to European Union (EU) states appears to be resonating with EU leaders, particularly Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel.
The Prime Minister of Georgia is holding high-level meetings with European leaders at the Eastern Partnership (EaP) Summit in Riga.
The Prime Minister of Georgia had a busy day today attending several meetings with top European officials at the Eastern Partnership (EaP) Summit in Riga.
Germany is offering €156 million (415 million GEL) to Georgia. This deal of financial support was solidified after Georgia’s Finance Ministry signed an agreement with the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.
Georgia’s Foreign Minister is going to Germany tomorrow to meet government officials and share the economic potential of Georgia with German investors.
In the framework of a two-day official visit to Germany, Georgia’s Foreign Minister Giorgi Kvrikashvili met German experts and said: "I see Germany as a strong, reliable partner for Georgia”.
Georgia’s efforts to assimilate with the European Union (EU), regional and global security and Georgia’s business environment were on the agenda at a special meeting between the Foreign Ministers of Georgia and Germany.
Germany is supporting Georgia to develop important structures of the economy by offering trainings to local staff in marketing, creative business and management directions.
The German Government will allocate €3.2 million to construct a new building of the German International School in Tbilisi.
Germany is offering €140 million financial assistance to Georgia to implement major investments projects in the country. From this money Georgia will receive €135 million as a loan and €5 million as a grant.
Georgia’s defence system greets New Year with brand new military vehicles to deal with chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) defense hazards.
This year has been declared as a year celebrating the friendship of Germany and Georgia.