IP/08/1406
Brussels, 25 September 2008
Commission recommends the negotiation of
Visa Facilitation and Readmission Agreements with Georgia
Today the Commission recommended that the Council
open negotiations on agreements to facilitate the procedures for issuing
short-stay visas and on readmission between the European Community and
Georgia.
On 1 September 2008 the Extraordinary European Council decided to step up the
EU's relations with Georgia, announcing visa facilitation measures among the
first priority confidence-building actions to be taken by the European
Community. Following these Council conclusions, the Commission drafted a mandate
in view of negotiation of a Community visa facilitation agreement with Georgia,
providing facilitations for Georgian citizens equivalent to those granted to
Russian citizens. At the same time, the Commission drafted a mandate for the
negotiation of a Community readmission agreement.
When adopting the Commission’s proposals Vice President Jacques Barrot,
Commissioner responsible for Justice, Freedom and Security, said: “Visa
facilitation is very important for ordinary citizens as they can have cheaper
and easier conditions to travel, study, do business with the EU. Easier access
to visas will certainly improve cooperation and exchanges between the EU and
Georgia. The Commission proposals constitute a balanced approach as, on the one
hand, visa facilitation will simplify travel conditions to and within the EU for
Georgian citizens whilst, on the other hand, ensuring the return of those who
illegally stay in the EU to their home country."
The Commission is proposing to the Member States a list of facilitations
which relate to the simplification of documentary evidence to be submitted in
support of the visa application, issuing multiple-entry visas with a long period
of validity, waiving/reducing the handling fees for specific categories to be
defined, setting deadlines for processing visa applications, as well as a
possible exemption from the visa obligation for holders of diplomatic
passports.
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