European Parliament adopted on February 2 the proposal on visa liberalization for Georgia, enabling the biometric passport holders to enter the Schengen area for 90 days within any 180-day period for a holiday, business or any other purpose, except working.

The proposal was approved with 553 votes in favor, 66 against and 28 abstentions.

Georgian and EU officials took to twitter to celebrate the European Parliament’s vote.

Giorgi Kvirikashvili, Prime Minister - “Congratulations! This is a truly historic day! Thank you European Parliament for granting visa free travel to citizens of Georgia!” 

Giorgi Margvelashvili, President - “Visa free for Georgia! Important step towards EU. Congratulations to Georgian people! Thanks to European Parliament and everyone involved.”

Mikheil Janelidze, Minister of Foreign Affairs - "The visa free travel will also be important to Georgian citizens living in the occupied regions, giving them a chance to benefit from visa liberalization and close ties with the European Union."

Viktor Dolidze, State Minister on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration  - "Congratulations to Georgian people! We made it!" 

Johannes Hahn, Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations -  "Good news for Georgian citizens: today’s adoption of Mariya Gabriel’s visa liberalization report by EP Plenary shows that EU delivers!"

"Confident that the EU Council will follow suit, so that Georgian citizens can enjoy well-deserved benefits of visa free travel soon!"

Dimitris Avramopoulos, EU Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship - "Welcome today’s overwhelming majority in the European parliament for Georgia’s visa liberalization."

Mariya Gabriel, MEP - "Great news for Georgia: European Parliament adopted with overwhelming majority visa free travel for citizens of Georgia."

Michał Boni, MEP - "Dear Georgians, today’s decision of the European Parliament is one of the last miles on your visa liberalisation marathon. You deserve it."

 
Ana Gomes, MEP - "European Parliament Plenary approved EU Georgia visa liberalization - 553 in favor, 66 against, 28 abstentions - achievement for EU and Georgian citizens!" 

Roberta Metsola, MEP - "Excellent result as visa waiver for Georgia is approved in EP Plenary."

Kati Piri, MEP - "Congrats to Georgians! After long and difficult path, visa free travel now voted in EP."

Sajjad Karim, MEP - "Every so often we are privileged enough to play a small part in a momentous change. European Parliament’s vote on Georgia visa free will deliver just that." 

Linas Linkevicius, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania - "Almost there, congratulations." 

Miroslav Lajčák, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia - "Congrats to Georgia on European Parliament vote to grant visa free travel. Another eu2016.sk priority finalized. Proof that hard work does pay off!"