The Bridge of Peace, usually called Peace Bridge, in Tbilisi, Georgia,
shone last night in the colours of the European Union flag – blue with yellow
stars. It was not just the Peace Bridge, but also the Government Administration
building, and the TV tower at Mstatsminda – the Holy Mountain. And not only in
the capital of Georgia, but also monuments in regional areas turned blue.
The reason for the colour blue with yellow stars was the result of the
European Commission report on Georgia’s Visa Liberalization Action Plan. In a
press conference yesterday, December 18, 2015, the head o fhte EU Delegation to
Georgia, Janos Herman, announced the positive report – and support – to the
Visa Liberalization Action Plan.
Visa liberalization will enable Georgian citizens to move visa-free
throughout the Schengen area. The Schengen area comprises 26 European countries
with common, or internal, borders. It includes 22 of the 28 European Union
countries – member states – and 4 European Free Trade Association (EFTA) member
states (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland). The 6 EU countries that
do not form the Schengen area are Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, and Romania, as
well as two opt-out countries, Ireland and the United Kingdom.
The announcement yesterday is reason to celebrate. The European Commission
will present its proposal to the EU Council for discussions – progress on the
visa liberalization path will then depend on the EU member states and MEPs –
people who are members of the European Parliament.
MARTINA NICOLLS is an international
aid and development consultant, and the author of:- The Shortness of
Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet
(2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).
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