Speech: Remarks by President Jean-Claude Juncker at the joint press point with Giorgi Kvirikashvili, Prime Minister of Georgia

Prime Minister, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is the third time - we think - that we are meeting.

I am delighted to welcome the Prime Minister back here to Brussels on a historic day for the people of Georgia and the European Union as well. Today, I am able to welcome not only my good friend Giorgi but also his compatriots.

After a long, sometimes difficult road, Georgian citizens can now enter the European Union visa-free for 90 days in any 180-day period whether it be for tourism, for family or for business.

This is possible only thanks to the ambitious and complex reform path undertaken by the Georgian government and by the Georgian people.

In 2012, we set out on this road together with a tough action plan towards visa-liberalisation. We supported Georgia every step of the way, whether it be in fighting organised crime or in its far reaching reforms of the public administration, and the rule of law and justice sectors.

We funded hundreds of projects, investing up to 400 million EUR from 2014 to 2017 alone. And the more you reformed, the more we supported.

But it is Georgia - its government and its people - that did all the hard work. Today's decision is testament to their efforts. Today is the beginning of a great success story.

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