EU relations with Georgia
President Tusk met with Georgia's Prime Minister on 19 July 2018
The EU supports Georgia's ambitions for closer ties with the EU. The EU and the government of Georgia agreed to continue to work together towards a further deepening of Georgia's political association and economic integration with the EU.
On 1 July 2016, the EU-Georgia association agreement with its deep and comprehensive free trade area came into full force. The agreement had been provisionally applied since 1 September 2014.
Territorial integrity and conflict resolution
The EU firmly supports Georgia's territorial integrity and conflict resolution in Georgia's breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
The EU is engaged through the co-chairmanship of the Geneva International Discussions by the EU Special Representative and the deployment of the EU monitoring mission in Georgia.
In December 2016, the European Council extended the mandate of this mission until 14 December 2018.
Association council
The association council is the highest formal institution established under the EU-Georgia association agreement to supervise the implementation of the agreement.
The fifth meeting of the association council was held on 5 March 2019. It focused on the implementation of the EU-Georgia association agreement, including the free trade agreement. The association council also discussed political developments in Georgia.
The fourth meeting of the EU-Georgia association council took place on 5 February 2018. This was an opportunity to take stock of the significant progress made in the implementation of the EU-Georgia association agreement and the development of stronger relations since 2017.
The EU and Georgia held the third meeting of the association council on 2 December 2016. The association council positively assessed the significant progress in EU-Georgia relations since the previous association council.
The association council welcomed the fact that the parliamentary elections in October were competitive, well-administered and fundamental freedoms were generally respected.
Both sides also welcomed the initial benefits of the economic integration through the deep and comprehensive free trade agreement (DCFTA) implementation.
The second meeting of the EU-Georgia association council took place on on 16 November 2015. They positively assessed the substantial progress in EU-Georgia relations since the first association council in November 2014.
Visa dialogue
Visa facilitation and readmission agreements with Georgia entered into force in 2011.
Infographic - Visa facilitation and liberalisation
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In June 2012, the EU opened a visa dialogue with Georgia and a visa liberalisation action plan was presented in early 2013. On 9 March 2016, the European Commission presented a proposal to allow visa-free travel to the Schengen area for Georgian citizens.
The Council reached an agreement with the European Parliament on visa liberalisation for Georgia on 13 December 2016. The Permanent Representatives Committee confirmed the agreement, on behalf of the Council, on 20 December 2016.
The agreement provides for visa-free travel for EU citizens and citizens of Georgia for a period of stay of 90 days in any 180-day period. It amends the regulation 539/2001 which lists the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement.
On 27 February 2017, the Council adopted a regulation on visa liberalisation for Georgians travelling to the EU for a period of stay of 90 days in any 180-day period. Ireland and United Kingdom are exempted from the application of these provisions in accordance with the protocols annexed to the EU treaties. The regulation entered into force on 28 March 2017.
- Visas: Council adopts regulation on visa liberalisation for Georgians
- European Commission proposal to allow visa free travel to the Schengen area for Georgian citizens
- Council Conclusions on Georgia - action plan on visa liberalisation, 17 November 2014
On 27 February 2017, the Council also adopted a regulation to revise the suspension mechanism, which can be applied to all existing visa liberalisation agreements.
High level meetings
On 22 January 2019, then European Council President, Donald Tusk met with the President of Georgia, Salomé Zourabichvili. President Tusk reconfirmed the EU's commitment to intensifying cooperation in the framework of the association agreement.
On 19 July 2018, then European Council President, Donald Tusk met with Georgia's Prime Minister, Mamuka Bakhtadze. They discussed bilateral relations, Georgia's reform process, as well as the regional situation.
"The European Union and Georgia are close partners and friends. In our meeting today, the Prime Minister and I confirmed our determination to further deepen our cooperation on the basis of the ambitious Association Agreement and take into account the strategic character of Georgia's political association and economic integration with the Union."
Remarks by President Donald Tusk after his meeting with Georgia's Prime Minister
On 8 June 2016, then European Council President, Donald Tusk met with President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili. They discussed the upcoming parliamentary elections in Georgia and the issue of visa free travel for Georgian citizens.
On 9 February 2016, then European Council President, Donald Tusk met with Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Kvirikashvili. They discussed a broad range of issues, including continued reforms of the judiciary, rule of law and human rights in Georgia and the issue of visa free travel.