Azernews.Az

By Mushvig Mehdiyev

Georgia expects the European Parliament to ratify the Association Agreement in early December, said Georgian Prime Minister, Irakli Garibashvili at the first EU-Georgia Association Council meeting on November 18.

"The Association Agreement is Georgia's master plan and its implementation is of the greatest importance. Our main priority is to consolidate democracy, the rule of law and good governance, as well as strengthen the independence of the judiciary and ensure the protection of human rights and freedoms,” he said.

Garibashvili believes that Georgia will eventually become a stable country with an effective pluralist democracy after implementation of the Association Agreement.

President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz, in turn, promised to accelerate Georgia’s visa liberalization process with the European Union.

"The European Parliament considers making Georgia’s visa regime as effective as possible in a short term and let the enterprises and investors get access to the European single market easily,” Schulz said.

Garibashvili, in turn, highlighted Georgia’s progress in visa liberalization dialogue with the EU.

"Establishing a visa free regime is one of the main priorities of my country. Visa free travel will be the most attractive result of Georgia’s EU integration process in a short term. It will tangibly benefit the citizens of Georgia,” Garibahsvili said.

Georgia has fulfilled the first phase of visa liberalization process. The EU mission will visit Georgia on November 24 for the first time to prepare a progress report on Georgia’s implementation of the second phase of visa liberalization.