The presidents of the European Parliament and European Council, Martin Schulz and Donald Tusk, tried in turn on Wednesday 30 November and Thursday 1 December to reassure Georgia's Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili about visa liberalisation entering into force swiftly for Georgians.
On 5 October, the ambassadors of the 28 EU member states decided that visa liberalisation should come about in tandem with implementation of the suspension mechanism for the visa-free regimes. But the inter-institutional negotiations on this mechanism are not making progress.
"We are working hard on the European side to be sure that the mechanism can be agreed on as soon as possible", Tusk stated, adding that Georgia had done everything required of it. "Georgia deserves swift and positive finalisation of this process", he said. During another meeting, Schulz seemed more ambitious, saying he was "still optimistic that it is possible to find a compromise on the mechanism". Kvirikashvili, for his part, underlined the importance of this visa liberalisation, which is expected by the people of his country. "We hope the internal procedures will be finalised in the near future", he added.
During their meetings with Kvirikashvili, Tusk and Schulz hailed the conduct of Georgia's parliamentary elections – which Tusk described as "competitive" and as upholding fundamental freedoms. He encouraged Kvirikashvili "to continue dialogue with the opposition and civil society, and to govern and progress on the reforms in an inclusive manner". Kvirikashvili confirmed his government's resolve to make a success of its "very ambitious reform agenda". "Georgia has made considerable progress towards consolidating democracy, and strengthening the rule of law and judicial independence", he said. In his view, over the 2017-2020 period, Georgia still wants to strengthen the rule of law, and to reform and improve its institutions.
Schulz and Tusk also reiterated their support for Georgia's territorial integrity. Tusk stated that the recent ratification of the military cooperation agreement between Russia and the separatist region of Abkhazia violated international law and had no legal status for the EU. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)