EU Commissioner: EU Might Lift Visa Requirements for Georgia Summer or Earlier

Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili met with Commissioner for ENP and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn in Brussels on Tuesday to discuss Georgia’s economic integration with the EU, further steps of the visa liberalization processes and main pillars of the Association Agenda signed in June 2014.

Following the meeting the EU Commissioner, Georgian PM and European Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos held joint press conference.

In his speech Hahn approved of Georgia’s successful implementation of the visa liberalization Action Plan and noted that Georgia is one of the leading states in the Eastern Partnership Initiative.

“We had very productive exchange of views,” Hahn stated after the meeting with Georgian Prime Minister. He also highlighted that “the EU
acknowledges the efforts Georgia has made with Association Agreement and we trust that Georgia will keep up its good performance.”

“Regarding visa liberalisation we will put forward legislative proposals in the common weeks. This is well deserved as the Georgia fulfilled all benchmarks and made good progress. Then it’s up to the member state and European Parliament to decide,” Hahn continued.

Georgia’s Prime Minister emphasized that timely finalization of the visa liberalization process is one of the top issues from the Government.

“Georgia has successfully fulfilled all technical requirements and now we look forward to the visa-free regime with the EU in the near future," Kvirikashvili stated.

Pursuant to the head of the Government, the participants at the meeting discussed means of deepening the economic integration of Georgia with the EU through the implementation of the DCFTA.

"For the past one year and a half, we have seen trade with the EU grow and foreign investments flow increase. We hope that this trend will continue as we are set to make the full use of the potential of free trade with the EU," Georgian PM stated.

Kvirikashvili emphasized that the Government will ensure the holding of elections in a transparent and free environment, freedom of the media, the persistent reform of the judiciary system and the engagement of the civic society.

“We are close to the final decision” European Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos stated in this regard.

Avramopoulos highlighted that Georgia fulfilled all undertakings envisaged by the Action Plan on Visa Liberalization and achieving positive results.

"European Commission is preparing to submit relevant legislative proposal to the European parliament and member states. Final political decision is up to the European Council and European parliament. This may occur in summer or even earlier", Avramopoulos stated.

Georgia’s Prime Minister is set to leave Brussels later today.