The FINANCIAL — As part of his visit to Strasbourg, Georgian Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze continues to hold meetings with representatives of various factions and parliamentary committees of the European Parliament. Granting Georgia visa-free travel to the EU, Georgia’s European integration and the importance of co-operation in this process are main themes of discussions during these meetings.
Mikheil Janelidze met Chairman of the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs Elmar Brok. According to the latter, Georgia has made important progress on its path to achieve visa-free travel to the EU. Technical requirements have been fully fulfilled and a decision with respect to Georgia will be made in the summer of 2016, according to MFA of Georgia.
The Georgian Foreign Minister also met Foreign Affairs Coordinator of the Social-Democrats Group Richard Howitt. According to him, the European Parliament, including the Social-Democrats Group, wish Georgia to be granted visa-free travel to the EU as soon as possible. Richard Howitt praised Georgia for the progress achieved while implementing its Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), which will bring Georgia closer to Europe.
“Georgia enjoys the European Parliament’s strong support as far as visa liberalization is concerned. I know how much important is for Georgia to achieve agreement on visa-free travel with the EU” – the European Parliament’s rapporteur for Georgia Andrejs Mamikins said after his meeting with Mikheil Janelidze.
Prior to the meeting with Mikheil Janelidze, Andrejs Mamikins met President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz to discuss issues relating to Georgia.
On the first day of the meeting, the Georgian Foreign Minister also met Foreign Affairs Coordinator of the European People’s Party Group Cristian Preda, representatives of the European People’s Party Group Artis Pabriks and Andrej Plenković, and Co-chair of the EU-Georgia Parliamentary Association Committee Clare Moody.