European Parliament approved on December 14 EU-Georgia agreements on visa facilitation and readmission of irregular immigrants.

The two agreements now need to be formally approved by the Council of the European Union and both of the documents will enter into force simultaneously, two months after notification by both parties that the ratification process is complete.

The visa facilitation agreement will simplify procedures for obtaining visas for the Georgian citizens and will cut the current EUR 60 visa fee to EUR 35 and also envisages waiving fees for specific categories such as children, family members of Georgian citizens residing in the EU, representatives of civil society organisations.

The visa facilitation agreement applies to all EU-member states, except of the UK and Ireland.

Readmission agreement lays out obligations and procedures for the Georgian authorities as to when and how to take back people who are illegally residing in EU.