French President Hollande Supports Georgia’s Visa Free Regime with EU

BORDEAUX, France – French President Francois Hollande said at a Tuesday meeting with Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili that he and his government stand in full support of implementing the EU’s visa-free regime for Georgia.

According to Kvirikashvili’s press office, Hollande praised Georgia’s ongoing reform initiative aimed at overhauling the country’s institutions and bringing them into line with European standards. Hollande also told Kvirikashvili that the Georgian government had fulfilled their obligations and have met the EU’s criteria for visa liberalization.

Georgia expects its visa-free regime with Brussels to come into force by no later than this summer. The new regime will allow Georgian citizens with biometric passports to enter and stay in the Schengen Zone countries without a visa for up to 90 days in an 180-day period.

The European Commission has already proposed to the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament to lift visa requirements for Georgian citizens within six months.

Visa liberalization, however, does not give Georgians the right to work, study or become legal residents of the Schengen member states. A work, study or immigration visa will continue to be required for Georgians who wish to travel to the EU for those purposes.

By Tamar Svanidze