Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council. First progress report on the implementation by Georgia of the action plan on visa liberalisation

The Visa Liberalisation Dialogue between the European Union and Georgia, aiming at examining all the relevant conditions for visa-free travel of citizens of Georgia to the EU, was launched in Brussels on 4 June 2012. On 25 February 2013 in Tbilisi, Georgia, the European Commission presented to the Georgian authorities the Action Plan on Visa Liberalisation (hereinafter the VLAP).

The VLAP is structured around four blocks, namely (1) Document security, including biometrics; (2) Integrated border management, migration management, asylum; (3) Public order and security; and (4) External relations and fundamental rights. It contains two tiers of benchmarks: preliminary benchmarks concerning the overall policy framework (legislation and planning), which are to pave the way for meeting more specific benchmarks (effective and sustainable implementation of relevant measures).

In line with the methodology outlined in the VLAP, the Commission is to communicate to the European Parliament and to the Council on the implementation of the VLAP by Georgia. This report is the first such communication.

• Primary Source

EUR-Lex: COM(2013)808: Follow the progress of this report through the decision-making procedure http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/HIS/?uri=COM:2013:808:FIN

ESO: Background Information: Commission assesses the implementation of Visa Liberalisation Action Plans by Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-commission-assesses-the-implementation-of-visa-liberalisation-action-plans-by-moldova-ukraine-and-georgia/

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