The civil society of Georgia considers the process of visa liberalization with the European Union to be of the highest importance.

We are convinced that the country has made considerable progress in all areas of reforms envisaged by the Visa Liberalization Acton Plan since its initiation in June 2012. These legal and institutional reforms have strengthened the country’s ability to control migration flows, and to ensure the security of personal documents and data. Asylum and migration policy reforms provide conditions for reasonable treatment of refugees and readmitted persons of all categories. In addition, an improved integrated border management system, police and other relevant services enable effective control and considerably restricts cross-border criminal activity. Moreover Georgia has progressed in terms of human rights protection, and that needs further support and assistance. 

The granting of a visa-free arrangement to Georgian citizens travelling to EU would, in our view, increase mutual understanding, create better possibilities for people-to-people contacts, and provide solid ground for cultural convergence, business links and connections. For a considerable number of Georgian citizens it would provide the opportunity and encouragement to embrace Europe.

A visa-free regime, if granted, would have a deep impact on the promotion of European ideals among Georgian citizens who, through visits of varying lengths, could gain a better  understanding of and connection with, the European continent. It would also represent tangible progress in our relations with the EU, a real achievement that would have a direct influence on the perception of Georgian citizens toward the EU. They would feel themselves real Europeans, accepted and received by the European family, and take on a responsibility to enhance and protect Georgia’s relations with Europe. In the longer term it would influence attitudes of Georgian citizens towards European values, evolve political culture and contribute to a mental transformation of the society towards a highly developed democratic unity of citizens.

Visa liberalization would also be the best response to external challenges which have the potential to drive Georgia away from the Europeanization process. In this regard, the use of anti-European propaganda can be influential and requires a well-evidenced counter argument.

Finally, we consider a visa-free regime, securing free movement of people between Georgia and EU, to be a key factor in the successful implementation of the Association Agreement and DCFTA, which has become operational since September 2014.

We kindly request the European Commission to take all of the above mentioned arguments into account and call on EU Member States to support the granting of a visa-free regime to Georgia.