EU Officials Congratulate Georgians on Historic Day
TBILISI – March 28 is a historic day for Georgians, as today the visa-free regime with the European Union has taken effect. This means Georgians with biometric passports will enjoy visa-free travel to Schengen countries for 90 days within a 180-day period.
Georgians can travel without visas to 22 EU member states: Belgium, Austria, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Estonia, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Greece, France, Slovenia, Slovakia, Hungary, Finland, Sweden, and Czech Republic. The visa-free travel also extends to four non-member states (Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) and four Schengen candidate countries (Bulgaria, Cyprus, Romania and Croatia).
Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite tweeted about Georgia’s success.
Open road to #Europe for Georgian people! #Georgia, travel safe! გილოცავთ!
— Dalia Grybauskaitė (@Grybauskaite_LT) March 28, 2017
The Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, also sent his congratulations to Georgians.
Sincerest congratulations to #Georgia and all its #citizens for #visafree travel coming into effect today. Enjoy #Europe!
— Johannes Hahn (@JHahnEU) March 28, 2017
Linas Linkevicius, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, released a video address.
"Congrats #Georgia on joining the #EU visa-free regime! ვულოცავთ #საქართველოს ევროკავშირთან უვიზო რეჟიმის მიღებას!" Linkevicius tweeted.
Congratulations to Georgia on #visafree travel to #EU! Great step towards further integration with EU. Welcome to #Estonia! pic.twitter.com/sXMqbaCWJW
— Estonian MFA (@MFAestonia) March 28, 2017
The EU Council also tweeted that Georgians will no longer need visas during short-time visits to Schengen area.
"Georgians travelling to the EU for a stay of 90 days in any 180-day period won't need visa from now on as a new regulation granting visa-free travel enters into force today," the EU Council tweet reads.
Georgians received congratulations from their leaders as well.
"It is a historic day—visa-free travel in the EU/Schengen Area is finally open to Georgian citizens. It is a great achievement and a good opportunity for Georgians to enhance their knowledge about the EU, learn more about the values underpinning the EU," Georgian PM Giorgi Kvirikashvili said.
Historic day for Georgia to enjoy visa free travel to #EU! Thanks to our friends ! Go #Georgia towards European Integration ! #VisaFree
— President Of Georgia (@MargvelashviliG) March 27, 2017
By Thea Morrison