European Commission stands for facilitation of the visa regime between EU and Georgia

European Commission came out with the initiative of facilitating the visa regime between EU and Georgia. According to Rosbalt, the relevant draft agreement has been developed after the recent negotiations between Tbilisi and European Union delegates.

"I strongly support the idea of facilitating the regime for Georgia. It will help eliminate the visa barriers and unite the people and will also give the citizens of Georgia an opportunity to travel freely around Europe. I am glad that the growth of cooperation between EU and Georgia started yielding fruit. In this way Georgia will become closer to the European Union", - stated the EU Commissioner for Home Affairs and Justice Cecilia Malmström.

According to the agreement, it is planned to facilitate the obtaining of visas for the citizens of Georgia who are going on a short tour to EU. The very procedure of getting a visa is facilitated; fewer documents are required now to issue a visa. The new agreement will help issue multiple visas for certain categories wishing to make a private trip of the EU countries (businessmen, journalists, members of the Georgian citizens' families living in European Union).

It has also been noted that the visa issuance procedure will be cheaper: now a visa will cost 35 euros. Visa fees are not obligatory for children, members of public civil organizations and members of the Georgian citizens' families living in European Union. The new agreement will also help provide timely return of illegal immigrants to Georgia.


/Georgia Times/