EU Parliament's Committee Backs Visa-Free Regime With Georgia, Kosovo

The European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs approved a visa-free travel deal with Georgia and Kosovo, according to the committee's press service.

BRUSSELS (Sputnik) — The European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs on Monday voted to support a visa-free travel deal with Georgia and Kosovo, the committee's press service said.

"#Visa waiver proposal for #Georgia backed by @EP_Justice 44/5/0 | @GabrielMariya," the committee said via its Twitter account.

#Visa waiver proposal for #Georgia backed by @EP_Justice 44/5/0 | @GabrielMariya pic.twitter.com/D6n5EnjJCM

— LIBE Committee Press (@EP_Justice) September 5, 2016

​Also on Monday, the committee approved the same decision with regard to Kosovo by a slight majority.

.@EP_Justice approves #visa waiver proposal for #Kosovo 25/24/2 | @tfajon pic.twitter.com/P1dYMSZpBm

— LIBE Committee Press (@EP_Justice) September 5, 2016

​Brussels and Tbilisi signed the EU-Georgia Association Agreement on June 27, 2014. In March 2016, the European Commission proposed to lift visa regime for Georgian citizens.

In January 2012, visa liberalization talks with Kosovo were launched by the European Commission. In June 2012, the Commission prepared a roadmap for visa liberalization that identified legislation and institutional measures that Kosovo needed to implement in order for such a regime to be introduced.

On July 7, the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs also recommended to grant visa-free travel to the residents of Ukraine, Georgia and Kosovo.