Georgia makes another step towards EU visa-free travel

The European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) has given yet another green light to Georgian visa liberalisation.

This means that Georgian citizens are one step closer to visa-free travel to the European Union (EU).

With 42 votes in favour, two against and one abstention today, the LIBE Committee approved a set of amendments to the text of Georgia’s visa liberalisation agreement previously adopted by the European Parliament (EP), European Council, European Commission and Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper) of the Governments of Member States.

#Visa waiver for #Georgia: @EP_Justice confirms deal w/ @EUCouncil. Vote in #EPlenary in February | @GabrielMariyapic.twitter.com/aKYJrxZnlW

— LIBE Committee Press (@EP_Justice) 12 January 2017

Welcoming progress on visa liberalisation, Georgia’s Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze expressed his gratitude on Twitter towards the European colleagues.

Greatly appreciate the support of #LIBE Committee 4 #Georgia's #Visa.Lib process-Thanks for 2day's voting @GabrielMariya@EP_Justice

— Mikheil Janelidze (@JanelidzeMkh) 12 January 2017

EP member Mariya Gabriel, a rapporteur on Georgia’s visa liberalisation, called on the Council to proceed as soon as possible.

We want our European Union to be surrounded by a ring of friends. Georgia is a strategic partner in our Eastern neighbourhood. Visa liberalisation and the Association Agreement are like an anchor that can stabilise the political course in the long-run”.

She further added that this is not only "bringing Georgian citizens closer to European Union values” but also making sure that the EU is becoming safer.

Voting with an overwhelming majority on #visa waiver @EP sends a strong message of its continual support to #Georgia@EPPGrouppic.twitter.com/WYuSTyXV4a

— Mariya Gabriel (@GabrielMariya) 12 January 2017

EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn also welcomed "overwhelming approval of LIBE committee for Georgia's visa liberalisation”.

Now #EPlenary and @EU_Council to follow suit. It will be a good New Year for #Georgian#citizens! 2/2

— Johannes Hahn (@JHahnEU) 12 January 2017

The EU-Georgia visa liberalisation dialogue started in 2012 and is expected to go into effect by the end of April 2017, after which all Georgian citizens holding biometric passports will be able to enter the EU's Schengen Zone without a visa for 90 days in any 180 day period.

However, there are still a number of procedures ahead:

Today’s agreement will be followed by a vote at the European Parliament’s plenary session next month. After the amended regulations will be formally approved by the Council of Ministers, the text will be signed and published in the Official Journal of the EU. The visa waiver for Georgia will enter into force on the same date as the review of the visa suspension mechanism on which EU institutions already have an agreement.