European Parliament lawmakers support Georgia’s quick visa liberalisation
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Georgia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mikheil Janelidze began his official visit in Stransbourg, France today by attending high-level meetings to show the importance of Georgia’s fast integration into Europe.
At a meeting with the Social-Democrats group of the European Parliament earlier today, the foreign lawmakers stressed the European Parliament and their group "strongly supported” Georgia to gain visa-free travel in the Schengen zone "as soon as possible”.
Foreign Affairs Coordinator of the Social-Democrats Group Richard Howitt praised Georgia for the progress achieved while implementing its Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) and Association Agreement (AA) with the European Union (EU).
Howitt said Georgia’s successful reforms had significantly speeded up Georgia’s European integration.
Meanwhile head of European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee Elmar Brok said he eagerly anticipated Georgia gaining visa liberalisation this summer, as the country had met all necessary technical obligations for this.
I understand before the summer holidays we will make a decision. I believe there are no obstacles in the way,” Brok said.
Georgia’s Foreign Minister met head of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee Elmar Brok. Photo by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Also today Janelidze met Secretary General of the Council of Europe (CoE) Thorbjorn Jagland, who will pay a reciprocal visit to Georgia next month. While in Georgia on May 9 Jagland will unveil the CoE’s new 2016-2019 Action Plan for Georgia.
Meanwhile at the meeting Janelidze and Jagland discussed the situation in Georgia’s de facto regions Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) and Russia’s continuing aggressive actions on Georgian soil.
Georgia’s Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze met Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjorn Jagland. Photo by Georgia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Janelidze thanked Jagland for the CoE’s supportive approaches to Georgia’s conflict issues. For his part Jagland thanked Janelidze for Georgia’s fruitful cooperation with the CoE.
Janelidze was scheduled to attend other meetings in the European Parliament and CoE before ending his official trip later today and returning to Georgia.
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The European Parliament has positively assessed Georgia’s progress towards visa liberalisation and supports Georgian citizens to travel to the Schengen area visa-free. This message was voiced at the committee meeting yesterday.