European leaders “proud of Georgia’s success”
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Today the regulation lifting visa requirements for Georgian citizens has come into force.
This is a day Georgians have awaited for years.
A number of international leaders have taken to Twitter to share their happiness for Georgia. Some of them even issued a congratulatory video message in Georgian.
Below, Agenda.ge has gathered a series of reactions to the good news from high-ranking foreign officials.
Georgia's traditional friends from the Baltic nations were some of the first to congratulate the country on this big day.
Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite first wrote on Twitter that the EU’s door opened to Georgians and wished Georgians safe travels.
Open road to #Europe for Georgian people! #Georgia, travel safe! áááááªááá!
— Dalia GrybauskaitÄ (@Grybauskaite_LT) March 28, 2017
She then filmed a video address, stating that Georgia a regional example of success and adding in Georgian that she is proud of its success.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius also released a video address, congratulating Georgia on the success and adding in Georgian that "Georgia is Europe.”
Congrats #Georgia on joining the #EU visa-free regime! áá£áááªááá #á¡áá¥áá áááááá¡ ááá ááááá¨áá ááá á£áááá á áááááá¡ ááá¦áááá¡! @MFAgovgepic.twitter.com/7UXZXEgNcd
— Lithuania MFA (@LithuaniaMFA) March 28, 2017
The Estonia Foreign Ministry also offered its warm wishes for Georgia via Twitter.
Congratulations to Georgia on #visafree travel to #EU! Great step towards further integration with EU. Welcome to #Estonia! pic.twitter.com/sXMqbaCWJW
— Estonian MFA (@MFAestonia) March 28, 2017
EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn wrote on Twitter:
Sincerest congratulations to #Georgia and all its #citizens for #visafree travel coming into effect today. Enjoy #Europe!
— Johannes Hahn (@JHahnEU) March 28, 2017
The German Foreign Ministry congratulated Georgia and said we should build bridges, not barriers.
Bridges, not barriers: As of today, our friends from #Georgia can enter the #EU#visafree! Congratulations! https://t.co/jggKNGKz2t
— GermanForeignOffice (@GermanyDiplo) March 28, 2017
Czech Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek also joined in the celebration. He wrote:
Visa-free access to the #EU for #Georgia starting today! Happy to congratulate Georgia´s people on this day! #GeorgiaEUVisaFree
— Lubomír Zaorálek (@ZaoralekL) March 28, 2017
Slovakian Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak wrote on Twitter that the visa waiver for Georgia was well-deserved.
From 28 March Georgians can travel to Schengen w/out a visa for a period of 90 days. Thumbs up! Well deserved & long overdue!
— Miroslav LajÄák (@MiroslavLajcak) March 26, 2017
Member of the European Parliament Mariya Gabriel, a rapporteur on Georgia’s visa liberalization, also congratulated Georgia.
As of today #Georgian citizens may travel to the #EU for short stays #VisaWaiver#BuildingBridges
— Mariya Gabriel (@GabrielMariya) March 28, 2017
The Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrm wrote:
Congratulations Georgia on #VisaFree travel to the Schengen Area from today. More contacts bring deepened relations. Gilotsavt Sakartvelos!
— Margot Wallström (@margotwallstrom) March 28, 2017
The EU Council also shared the good news on Twitter and wrote that "Georgians won't need visa anymore for short trips to the EU thanks to a new regulation starting today.”
Georgians won't need #visa anymore for short trips to the EU thanks to a new regulation starting today https://t.co/GGddMZpWzO#Georgiapic.twitter.com/wONCuPiYjg
— EU Council (@EUCouncil) March 28, 2017
We will be updating this collection throughout the day.
From now on, Georgian citizens no longer need a visa to travel to the Schengen Zone. The regulation lifting visa requirements for Georgians entered into effect today, Tuesday, March 28.
Agenda.ge’s team of journalists will be some of the first Georgian citizens to cross the EU border without a visa requirement early tomorrow morning.
Georgia is taking steps to ensure its citizens do not violate EU visa-free travel rules as the visa-free regime for Georgian citizens to the European Union comes into force tomorrow.
Georgian Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze says that, first of all, the European Union (EU) visa waiver is a recognition of the efficacy of Georgia’s recent reforms and institutions.
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras hosted his Georgian counterpart Giorgi Kvirikashvili, stating it was an honour for him that Greece had been chosen as his first visa-free destination.
President of the European Council Donald Tusk said today is a special day as visa free regime for Georgian citizens to the European Union (EU) has entered into force.
President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker says that March 28 was a great success for both Georgia and the European Union (EU).
A large street banner has been installed near the Vilnius Airport to warmly greet first guests from Georgia who travel to Lithuania visa-free. The bilingual banner says in English and Georgian: "Closer than ever.”
Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili is paying his first visa-free visit to Lithuania with Georgian citizens with Abkhazian and Ossetian origin today.
Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili met with the Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite during his first visa-free visit to Vilnius.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili has congratulated European Parliamentarian Mariya Gabriel on being elected as the European Union (EU) Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society.
Almost a year ago, visa-free travel regulations for Georgian citizens traveling to the European Union (EU) went into force. Welcoming the special anniversary at a government session this morning, Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili said this is one of the country’s greatest achievements.
Within a year of the Georgia-EU visa free agreement, 192,453 Georgian citizens have visited the Schengen Zone 258,663 times, the Georgian Interior Ministry reports. Deputy Interior Minister Nino Javakhadze stated that in total 1,001 Georgians were refused entry into the EU passport-free zone.
Head of the Georgian Parliament’s EU Integration Committee Tamar Khulordava says that since March 28, 2017, when Georgians were permitted to travel visa-free to the EU’s Schengen Zone, 255,429 Georgian citizens have used the opportunity.
Four years ago on this day the regulation lifting visa requirements for Georgians to travel to the European Union entered into effect.