Peace Bridge turns blue with yellow stars

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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