| Author (Corporate) | European Commission |
|---|---|
| Series Title | COM |
| Series Details | (2015) 684 final (18.12.15) |
| Publication Date | 18/12/2015 |
| Content Type | Policy-making, Report |
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The EU-Georgia Visa Liberalisation Dialogue was launched in June 2012. In February 2013, the European Commission presented the Georgian Government with an action plan on visa liberalisation (VLAP). The VLAP sets a series of precise benchmarks for four 'blocks' of technically relevant issues, with a view to adopting a legislative, policy and institutional framework (phase 1) and ensuring its effective and sustainable implementation (phase 2). The benchmarks need to be met before Georgian nationals holding biometric passports can enter the Schengen area for short stays without applying for a visa. In November 2013, the Commission adopted its first progress report on Georgia’s implementation of the VLAP and made several recommendations for completing the first (legislative and planning) phase. In October 2014, the Commission adopted its second progress report, which concluded that Georgia had fulfilled the first-phase benchmarks of the VLAP and was ready to be assessed on the second-phase benchmarks. In its conclusions of 17 November 2014, the Council concurred with the Commission’s assessment. The report was accompanied by an assessment of the potential migratory and security impacts of future visa liberalisation for Georgian citizens travelling to the EU. In December 2014, Georgia submitted an updated progress report. Evaluation of all four blocks of the VLAP took place from December 2014 to March 2015 under the lead of the Commission, during mission visits involving experts from EU Member States, assisted by the Commission, the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the EU Delegation to Georgia. The Commission adopted the third progress report on Georgia's implementation of the VLAP on 8 May 2015. The report took note of significant progress made by the Georgian authorities in implementing the second phase of the VLAP and acknowledged the fulfilment of many benchmarks under the four blocks. However it also pointed out that several issues still needed to be addressed in the following areas: migration management, asylum policy, trafficking in human beings, fight against corruption, money laundering, drugs, law enforcement and citizens' rights. This is the fourth progress report on Georgia’s implementation of the VLAP. It looks at how the Georgian authorities have addressed the recommendations of the third progress report in relation to the remaining VLAP benchmarks. This report does not elaborate on those benchmarks that were considered as already achieved in the last report because monitoring has demonstrated that they are continuing to be fulfilled. The report is accompanied by a Commission staff working document which provides more detailed background information on the developments under each benchmark. In the annex to the staff working document, the Commission provides an updated factual analysis and statistics-based information on the possible migratory and security impacts of visa liberalisation for Georgian citizens travelling to the EU, based on inputs from relevant EU agencies and stakeholders. The impact assessment gives prospective main trends in migration and security areas. It shows that the EU remains an attractive destination for migrants from Georgia and that there are potential migratory and security challenges to be monitored. |
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| Source Link | http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM:2015:684:FIN |
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| Countries / Regions | Georgia |
