EP approves visa waiver for Georgian citizens

Georgian citizens will be able to enter the Schengen area without a visa for short stays under a new law passed by European Parliament (EP) on Thursday.

The change means Georgia is now on the list of countries whose nationals are exempted from needing a visa to enter the EU, the so-called "positive" list.

Under the visa exemption, endorsed in a plenary by 553 votes to 66, with 28 abstentions, Georgians who hold a biometric passport will have the right to enter the EU visa-free for 90 days in any 180-day period, for business, tourist or family purposes, but not to work.

However, the legislation still needs to be formally approved by the member states of the European Union (EU) and will only enter into force once the suspension mechanism, which allows the temporary reintroduction of visas in the event of migration surges or risks to public security, is in place.

Tbilisi has complied with all the benchmarks of its visa liberalization plan, said a statement from the EP.

But it underlined that continuous fulfillment by Georgia of such criteria, especially on the fight against organized crime, would be duly monitored by the EU executive arms.

The visa waivers apply to the Schengen area, which includes 22 EU member states, with the exception of Ireland, Britain, Croatia, Cyprus, Romania and Bulgaria, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Endit