Brussels, 25/02/2016 (Agence Europe) - For Georgian Secretary of State for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration David Bakradze, the positive assessment by the European Commission on the visa-free travel regime for Georgians is a message of his country's acceptance in the EU.
“Recognition by the European Commission of the successful implementation of the visa liberalisation action plan (Ed: in December 2015) is … much more than simply making it possible for every Georgian to cross borders freely. It is a message of acceptance”, he said at the launch of the book “Georgia's European Ways - political and cultural perspectives” at the European Parliament on Wednesday 24 February (see EUROPE 11457). According to a Georgian source, the Commission is about, next week, to bring forward its proposal on liberalising visas for Georgia. When contacted, the Commission declined to confirm this information.
“Today, Georgia stands closer to the European dream than it ever has”, said Bakradze. He added that Georgians had chosen to be European in order to be “on the right side of history” and that Europe was a “geo-political ambition” of Georgian society. 2016 is an election year in Georgia and most political parties are of the opinion that the country's future is all about European integration and aspiration, he said. “We remain fully consistent in choosing Europe”, he stressed. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)