EU officials sign documents allowing Georgians visa-free EU entry
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 1 March 2017 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, EU officials sign documents allowing Georgians visa-free EU entry, 1 March 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5975a5c613.html [accessed 2 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Last Updated: March 01, 2017
The visa-liberalization deal will apply to all EU countries except Britain and Ireland. (file photo)
BRUSSELS – European Union officials and lawmakers signed documents formalizing a visa-liberalization deal with Georgia on March 1.
Diplomats familiar with the issue told RFE/RL that the documents will be published in the official EU journal on March 8 and will enter into force 20 days later, enabling Georgians to travel visa-free to the EU as of March 28.
That moment has been eagerly awaited in Georgia, a former Soviet republic that has long sought closer ties with Europe and has faced persistent efforts by Russia to increase Moscow's influence following a brief war in 2008.
Officials and diplomats are signed a document on a visa-suspension mechanism that has been drafted as a condition for the implementation of visa-liberalization agreements for non-EU countries.
The suspension mechanism allows for visa-free regimes to be halted under certain circumstances once they are in place.
On February 28, the EU decided to move ahead with visa liberalization for Ukraine, another country whose efforts to tighten ties with the West have led to Russian aggression. EU ambassadors are set to endorse that deal on March 2, but more steps are needed before it can go into effect.
The visa-liberalization deal will apply to all EU countries except Britain and Ireland, and also to non-EU Schengen Area countries Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland.
Rikard Jozwiak covers the European Union and NATO for RFE/RL from his base in Brussels. Write to him at [email protected]
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
