VP/HR — visa liberalisation dialogue with Georgia

27.10.2015

Question for written answer E-014155-15
to the Commission (Vice-President/High Representative)
Rule 130
Andrejs Mamikins (S&D)

Abolishing the necessity for holding a valid visa when crossing the EU border has become standard practice in the case of states, with whom the EU aims to establish closer diplomatic ties and productive multisphere cooperation. The same should undoubtedly be true for countries participating in the Eastern Partnership.

In the case of Moldova, the visa liberalisation dialogue was launched in 2010 and — following five consecutive progress reports — the visa regime was abolished in April 2014. In the case of Georgia, however, it is still in effect — even after three relatively positive progress reports and the corresponding remarks by high-ranking EU officials, including VP/HR Federica Mogherini.

1. What were the relevant factors that allowed Moldova to achieve a visa-free regime with the EU, while Georgia did not? Is the EEAS challenging Georgia’s readiness to join the ever-growing visa-free list of states?

2. Is there a connection between Ukraine’s and Georgia’s respective progress, thus aiming to ‘tie’ the latter’s visa liberalisation dialogue success to that of the former?

3. Could the EEAS provide a full list of specific issues which have hindered Georgia’s progress on its path towards a visa-free regime with the EU?