Georgia on list of countries allowed to enter the EU from July 1

Regular international flights will not resume in Georgia until August 1, announces the Georgian Civil Aviation Agency. The Civil Aviation Agency calls on citizens not to buy tickets until the exact date of the resumption of international flights is not announced by 'official sources'. Earlier today the Economy Minister of Georgia Natia Turnava announced that the ban on regular flights may be extended until the end of July.

The ban on regular flights may be extended until the end of July due to the rapid increase in the number of new coronavirus cases in neighboring countries, Georgian Economy Minister Natia Turnava said earlier today. Turnava mentioned that the main task for the Georgian government is to strengthen the gains made in properly managing the epidemiological situation and protecting the population.

Domestic tourism resumes today in Georgia, while the country will open its doors to international tourists on July 1. Railway travel also resumes today. Georgian Railway officials say the company is ready to ensure the safe transportation of passengers and to implement the regulations imposed by the Ministry of Health of Georgia.

The Georgian Civil Aviation Agency has published recommendations for airports, airline companies and passengers about how to carry out flights during the coronavirus pandemic.

Two people have tested positive for the COVID-19 in Georgia increasing the total number of confirmed cases to 921. Meanwhile, one infected individual has recovered, bringing the total number recoveries to 781.

Nothing threatens the relations of Georgia and the European Union due to the ban on transport amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia said earlier today.

EU Ambassador to Georgia Carl Hartzell welcomed Georgia’s inclusion among 15 countries to which the European Union will reopen its borders tomorrow, on July 1. Congratulating Georgia Hartzell said this is 'further recognition' of its 'hard and successful work' in fighting with COVID-19.

EU Ambassador to Georgia Carl Hartzell welcomes the decision of the Council of the European Union with regards to including Georgia in the list of 15 countries to which the EU will be reopening its borders gradually starting today.

Activity at Georgia’s land borders is being effectively monitored, Georgian PM Giorgi Gakharia stated earlier today, but noted the government does not plan to ‘take any fast steps’, and so land borders will not be opening yet. 

Georgian citizens traveling to Latvia will not have to be placed under mandatory quarantine on arrival. They also do not need to be tested for the coronavirus. However, this will not apply to Georgian citizens traveling to Latvia from so-called ‘red countries’ where the pandemic is still raging.

Germany is lifting entry restrictions for citizens of 11 non-EU countries including Georgia from today.

The government of Georgia is negotiating with international airlines airBaltic and Air France to resume air travel and regular flights with five EU member states with whom Georgia has unconditionally reopened its borders. 

Georgia is opening its borders for travellers from five countries, announces PM Spokesman Irakli Chikovani after a meeting of the Interagency Coordination Council today. The government of Georgia is also negotiating with international airline companies to resume direct flights in Georgia. So far an agreement has been reached with Lufthansa which will start flights between Munich and Tbilisi starting August. 

Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, a joint venture between the Hungarian budget airline and Abu Dhabi state holding company ADQ, will begin operations on October 1, with six new routes including the west Georgia city of Kutaisi.

The European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee adopted its new report on the implementation of the EU-Georgia Association Agreement, saying that the upcoming parliamentary elections in Georgia in October will be ‘pivotal’ in confirming the country’s democratic credentials. The report was approved by 56 votes in favour, eight against with six abstentions.The report welcomed the ‘continuous deepening’ of EU-Georgia relations and acknowledges the ‘country's recent progress in implementing comprehensive overall reforms, which has made Georgia a key partner of the EU in the region.’

The Council of the European Union has updated the list of countries to which the travel restrictions should be gradually lifted and the list still includes Georgia. The criteria to determine third countries for which current travel restrictions should be lifted cover in particular the epidemiological situation and containment measures, including social distancing, as well as economic and social considerations. 

The Council of the European Union has updated the list of countries for which travel restrictions should be gradually lifted and the list still includes Georgia.

Georgian citizens will now be screened at border checkpoints while traveling to the EU or Schengen zone in addition to facing checks at their destination.