The European Parliament voted on 2 February in favour of lifting short-term EU visas for citizens of Georgia.
The rapporteur of the European Parliament on the liberalisation of the EU visa regime for the citizens of Georgia, MEP Maria Gabriel, expects the policy to take effect by the end of March. Georgias will be able to stay in the Schengen countries without visas for 90 days out of 180.
According to the established procedures, after the vote in the European Parliament the adopted regulation has to be formally approved by the EU Council at the ministerial level. It will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union after it is signed by the president the European Parliament and the relevant representative of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union (Malta).
The regulation will enter into force 21 days after its official publication.
Originally, Ukraine and Georgia were expected to be granted visa-free travel simultaneously, but later the process was split. It is still unknown when the voting on Ukraine is to take place.