EU-Georgia Visa Dialogue and Action Plan on Visa Liberalization
The EU-Georgia Visa Dialogue was officially launched on June 4, 2012 and the Action Plan on Visa Liberalization (VLAP) was presented to the Georgian authorities on February 25, 2013.
Visa Dialogue includes 4 thematic blocks, according to which Georgian government should implement corresponding reforms.
4 blocks of the Visa Dialogue are:
- Document security, including biometrics;
- Integrated border management, migration management, asylum;
- Public order and security;
- External relations and fundamental rights.
Visa Liberalisation Action Plan envisages implementation of benchmarks in two phases: the first phase aims to establish the legal and institutional framework and the second phase will be devoted to their effective implementation.
Within the framework of the action plan some of the obligations within the competence of the ministry of internal affairs are:
- Enhancement and legislative regulation of inter-agency cooperation in the area of integrated border management, adoption of an ethical code and training programs for border officers;
- Elaboration of legislative framework and mechanism of fight against illegal migration;
- Conclusion of readmission agreements with third countries;
- Elaboration of national strategy and action plan on fight against organized crime;
- Enhancing interagency cooperation between law enforcement agencies;
- Regulating issue of personal data protection in the police sector;
On October 10-11, 2013 EU experts assessment mission visited Georgia and held meeting with representatives of every agency involved in the implementation of Visa Liberalization Action Plan. On the basis of the assessment mission conclusion and the reports submitted by Government of Georgia and relevant non-governmental organizations, on November 15, 2013, European Commission published first progress report on implementation of the Action Plan. European Commission noted that Georgia has made very good progress during the first few months, especially in the areas of integrated border management and document security.