More Europe in Georgia and more Georgia in Europe

/By AzerNews/

By Laman Sadigova

The European Union has adopted visa free regime with Georgia, enabling the Georgian citizens to enter the Schengen area just with their biometric passports fora stay ofmore than one time during 90 days in any 180-day period.

The Georgian government called December 18 as a historical day for the entire nation.

“On the way to the European integration Georgia has made a step that largely determines our future in the common family of European states," said the Georgian Prime Minister, Irakli Garibashvili.

Tbilisi, which has chosen the path of European integration, applied the EU for visa free regime in summer of 2012.

Georgia has fulfilled all conditions for visa liberalization with the Union.

Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, Dimitris Avramopoulos said the hard work of the Georgian authorities over the past three years towards achieving this important goal for the benefit of Georgian citizens has given positive results.

"I am very pleased that Georgian citizens with a biometric passport will soon be able to travel to the Schengen area for short stays without a visa,” he stressed, adding that it is important to keep upholding all standards.

Many experts believe that giving the country a visa-free regime with the EU will play a positive role in promoting social and economic processes in the country.

“The progress achieved by Georgia over the last three years in all areas covered by the (visa liberalization) action plan was steady and effective," said the EU ambassador to Georgia Janos Herman.

For Georgia, such a historic decision means the beginning of a new stage in its development, which opens new opportunities for sharing knowledge and experience with the Europeans and deepening the relations at all levels, Garibashvili added.

Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili also welcomed the published report, noting that it fully reflects the progress that the country has achieved in the past three years. He also added that the choice of Georgia is a "European choice".

“More Europe in Georgia and more Georgia in Europe,” President said.

In February 2013 the Government of Georgia was presented an action plan with a list of requirements that the country must fulfill to obtain its citizens' right to visa-free short-term visits to the Schengen area.

In total, in accordance with the plan, Georgia has adopted more than 60 legislative changes, nine national policies, and ratified seven international conventions, the Foreign Ministry reports.

Experts suggest that the law will be implemented and more likely to happen in 2016.

The visa-free regime will apply to travels to all EU-member states, except for the United Kingdom and Ireland.