EU Commissioner: Georgian citizens welcome to EU/Schengen zone
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European Union (EU) Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs Dimitris Avramopoulos said the final green light to lifting visa-requirements for Georgia is a "historic moment” and "one step” forward between Georgia and the EU at a press conference with Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili.
The final decision has been taken. The moment has finally come to celebrate and congratulate Georgia and the people of Georgia”, Avramopoulos said in response to today’s EU Council decision.
The commissioner arrived yesterday in Georgia to meet with Kvirikashvili.
The EU Commissioner thanked the Government of Georgia for their commitment and efforts in implementing necessary policy standards, which in turn has allowed for a swift process of visa-liberalisation and now, a complete waiver.
Georgia is an example of progress and reforms that bring it one step towards its European path”, he said, welcoming Georgian citizens to come as tourists, friends, family, for different cultural or sports events, to attend business meetings, for journalistic purposes, short studies and trainings.
Hoping that one day Georgia will become the full member of the EU, Avramopoulos said this means being part of a union of peace, stability, progress, tolerance, solidarity and prosperity.
He said today Georgia is sending a "strong message” to the European family.
Delighted about #visaliberalisation for #Georgia and its citizens today:bringing Georgia and EU closer to each other https://t.co/kLL5uiREDwpic.twitter.com/ud7djD5M4e
— DimitrisAvramopoulos (@Avramopoulos) 27 February 2017
The EU Council adopted a regulation on lifting visa-requirements for Georgians travelling to the EU for 90 days within any 180-day period today.
The revised regulation will be signed on March 1 and published in the official journal. Twenty days after the publication, Georgian citizens will be able to enjoy short-term visa-free travel in the EU/Schengen Area.
This is the final step in the decision-making process. I congratulate every Georgian citizen on this very important decision”, Kvirikashvili said.
Kvirikashvili said all the benefits of visa-free travel will be available to Georgian citizens in the occupied territories of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region (South Ossetia), "which will motivate them to use Georgian passports”.
Thanking Avramopoulos "for his personal efforts in the process of Georgia-EU visa liberalisation”, Kvirikashvili said "the introduction of the visa waiver is an important step on the path for Georgia towards European integration, drawing Georgia ever closer to Europe”.
European Union (EU) Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs Dimitris Avramopoulos expressed his excitement over Georgia and its foreign allies having reached a "desirable aim” in the lifting of visa-requirements for Georgian citizens traveling to the EU Schengen Zone.
European Union (EU) ambassadors have given the green light to the lifting of visa-requirements for Georgians and for the suspension mechanism to be implemented today at a meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper).
European Parliament approves visa-free travel for Georgian citizens
Today is the final stretch of a long marathon Georgia has been running for years: starting in spring, Georgian citizens will be able to travel visa-free to most countries of the European Union.
Today the EU has announced that the regulation lifting visa-requirements for Georgia has finally been adopted. International leaders have taken to Twitter to share in the happiness of the Georgian nation.
The Foreign Ministry of Georgia said that today’s adoption of the Schengen visa waiver for Georgia proves that the European Union (EU) considers Georgia as its stable partner.
The European Union has announced that a regulation lifting visa-requirements for Georgian citizens travelling to Europe has been adopted today.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili is in Brussels today to attend the final signing of a regulation that will lift visa-requirements for Georgian citizens traveling to the European Union (EU).
Georgian citizens will travel to the Schengen states visa-free in less than one month time. New legislation was officially approved shortly ago in Brussels where EU officials placed the final signature to the regulation lifting visa-requirements for Georgians.