The Association Council welcomed the continuous efforts of Georgia to address violations of the visa-free travel requirements. The press release published after the EU-Georgia Association Council meeting in Brussels on March 16 reads.

“The Association council recalled that a great number of Georgian citizens have benefited from short term visa-free travel to Schengen countries in recent years. It welcomed the continuous efforts of Georgia to address violations of the visa-free travel requirements, including the latest legislative amendments to the Law of Georgia on ‘Rules for Georgian citizens on Leaving and Entering Georgia’ and underlined the importance of its effective implementation,” the press release reads.

The document notes that Georgia should continue to fulfil the visa liberalisation benchmarks.

“The Association council underlined the critical importance of sustained efforts by Georgia to continue to fulfil the visa liberalisation benchmarks, in particular in order to strengthen and maintain the recent decrease in the number of unfounded asylum applications lodged by Georgian nationals in the Schengen + area. The EU encouraged Georgia to further enhance cooperation with the EU Member States to counter irregular migration and organised crime,” the document reads.

According to the press release, both sides welcomed a renewed working arrangement signed between Georgia and Frontex, as well as Georgia’s acquisition of observer status in the European Migration Network.

The sixth meeting of the Georgia-EU Association Council has been held on Tuesday in Brussels, Belgium. Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili and his governmental delegation participated in the session.