EU moves to second stage of negotiating visa-free regime with Georgia

The foreign ministers of the European Union (EU) have recognized the implementation by Georgia of the first stage of visa liberalization and supported the transition to the second stage of negotiations about visa abolition, says the communiqué of the European Council on Foreign Affairs.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on June 27, in Brussels, the Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili signed the Association Agreement with the EU, which provides for Georgia's entry into the EU's free trade zone. On July 18, the Georgian Parliament unanimously ratified the document. From September 1, Georgia tightened its visa regime, in particular, by reducing the list of countries, whose citizens may enter the territory of Georgia without visas. Besides, five different categories of visas, which will be issued by Georgian consulate abroad, were introduced.

The European Commission (EC) recommended passing over to the second phase of negotiations with Georgia on visa-free regime with the EU in late October.

Let us note here that on November 16 a Georgian delegation headed by Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili arrived in Brussels. The first sitting of the Association Council, headed by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, will discuss the mechanisms for efficient implementation of the reforms envisaged by the agenda of the association, the "Georgia-Online" reports.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.