For the first time in the history of Georgian sports, Georgia hosts an international touring car championship. The opening ceremony of the championship at the Rustavi International Racetrack was attended by Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, together with the Interior Minister and other members of the Government. The international championship features 16 racers competing for 12 countries. A member of the MIA Force sports club at the MIA Service Agency, the face for the Road Safety Program and European Champion Data Kajaia and Serb athlete Dusan Borkovich participate in the competition on behalf of Georgia.
Davit Kajaia is the winner of today's first TCR round.
Initiated by the Interior Ministry, the opening ceremony of the 2017 season of the TCR International Series at the Rustavi International Racetrack was attended by the founder of TCR International Marcello Lotti, Georgian and international fans, and reporters for leading global sports media. A certain amount from each sold ticket will be donated to the Solidarity Fund to support children and adolescents suffering from oncological diseases.

Georgian government delegation led by Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili in company with Georgian students and representatives of various communities travelled to Europe on the first flight after the launch of visa-free travel with the EU. 
“It is the first historical visa-free travel of Georgian citizens to the EU/Schengen area. Visa liberalization offers Georgian citizens a broad spectrum of opportunities. Here are students who can freely establish contacts with their European friends and colleagues. Here are also businessmen who will be able to find partners throughout Europe, across the 500-million market. Visa-free travel also gives representatives of culture an access to various European programmes and funds and an opportunity to develop joint projects together with European partners” – Mikheil Janelidze said.  
The Georgian delegation will first arrive in Athens - the cradle of the European civilization, where they will take part in the Conference titled “Georgia from Europe to Europe”. While in Greece, the Georgian Prime Minister will meet his Greek counterpart Alexis Tsipras.
Members of the Georgian delegation will visit the historical part of the city and then will leave for Brussels where they will hold meetings Donald Tusk, President of the European Council and Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission. A reception evening will be held in Brussels on the occasion of Georgia’s visa liberalization.    

The successful finalization of visa liberalization for Georgia was referred to as "a historic day for both Georgia and the EU" today by President Jean-Claude Juncker of the European Commission and Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili. The Georgian Prime Minister, during his visit to Brussels, held a meeting with the President of the European Commission and thanked him for his tremendous role in the process of visa liberalization.
The parties discussed the agenda of Georgia-EU relations and commended the success achieved so far. As it was pointed out at the meeting, the launch of visa liberalization is yet another testimony to the efforts of the Georgian Government in the building of democratic institutions.
According to Giorgi Kvirikashvili, Georgia has taken a giant step toward returning to the European family, while the EU, for its part, has showed that the European choice brings tangible results, and that the EU does come through with its promises.
The discussion also involved the steps planned by the Government of Georgia in relation to the launch of visa-free travel, which seek to avoid violations from Georgian citizens and to prevent growing numbers of illegal migrants and asylum seekers.
The meeting in Brussels was attended by Georgia's Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Education and Science Alexandre Jejelava, Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze, State Minister on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Victor Dolidze, and the Prime Minister's Foreign Adviser Tedo Japaridze.

To celebrate the historic event of visa liberalization, Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, accompanied by the Georgian delegation, visited today Brussels, Europe's political center.
Giorgi Kvirikashvili held his first meeting in Brussels with President Donald Tusk of the European Council. Donald Tusk congratulated the Head of Georgian Government on the launch of visa-free travel to EU/Schengen Area member states, also expressing hope that Georgia will remain as determined in achieving the goals defined in the European integration agenda.
Giorgi Kvirikashvili thanked Donald Tusk for his personal contribution to Georgia's visa liberalization and congratulated him on his reelection as President of the European Council.
According to the Prime Minister, visa liberalization is a strong incentive for further achievements towards EU integration, and Georgia will make full use of the opportunities offered by EU political association and economic integration.
The meeting in Brussels was attended by Georgia's Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Education and Science Alexandre Jejelava, Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze, State Minister on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Victor Dolidze, and the Prime Minister's Foreign Adviser Tedo Japaridze.

During his visit to Athens, Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, together with students and scholars, enjoyed the site of the Athenian Acropolis Complex, one of the most significant ancient monuments, and the Parthenon temple.
In 1987, the Acropolis Complex was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

From now on, Georgian citizens will enjoy visa-free travel in the Schengen Area, which is a result of our joint efforts, the Georgian Prime Minister stated after today's meeting with his Greek counterpart. Giorgi Kvirikashvili and Alexis Tsipras made joint statements and described the details of their meeting.
Giorgi Kvirikashvili emphasized the symbolism of this visit to Greece on such an important day for Georgia, and stressed the centuries-old friendship and partnership Georgia shares with Greece. According to him, it is equally symbolic that Georgia signed the EU Association Agreement during Greece's Presidency of the Council of the EU.
"Today's visit has yet another symbolic meaning. In Athens, we are accompanied by Georgian students, the country's future generation. The benefits offered by visa-free travel in the Schengen Area will bring prosperity and development to them and every Georgian citizen, including our compatriots in Georgia's occupied territories. I am convinced that this generation has a great future, and they will worthily continue the country's development, which will undoubtedly lead to our full and ultimate return to the European family," the Prime Minister emphasized.
According to Giorgi Kvirikashvili, visa liberalization is a significant incentive for continuing successful reforms and positive changes in Georgia. He also stressed the obligations related to visa-free travel, pointing out that Georgia is taking a number of steps to ensure compliance of Georgia citizens with the visa-free travel rules.
"To this end, an intensive awareness campaign about the rights and obligations stemming from visa liberalization is in full swing. Our unchanging goal is to continue active reforms in order to introduce best European standards and norms in the country through the implementation of the Association Agreement, which is the Georgian Government's top priority," the Prime Minister stated.
Giorgi Kvirikashvili also congratulated Greece on its Independence Day. According to Kvirikashvili, 2017 also marks the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Georgia and Greece.According to the Prime Minister of Georgia, the need to maintain top-level political dialogue and prospects of deeper relations were also discussed during the meeting.
"We stressed the need to have greater sectoral cooperation, especially deeper economic relations. In this context, the potential of cooperation between our countries is quite big, so we plan to make an all-out effort to excel in this direction. I would like to single out education, science, and culture as the fields of especially productive cooperation between Georgia and Greece. We have a solid cultural foundation to enhance our relations and deepen our partnership. The first step in this direction will be the meeting of the Commission for Bilateral Cooperation, which will be held here, in Greece, this May, that will lay the foundation of a substantially, qualitatively new far-reaching type of cooperation between Georgia and Greece," the Prime Minister of Georgia said.
The Prime Minister of Greece once again congratulated Georgia on visa liberalization, expressing his hope for even deeper relations between Georgia and Greece.
"Welcome to Greece! The Prime Minister of Georgia is the first Georgian citizen to visit the Schengen Area after the completion of visa liberalization. It is symbolic that he chose Greece as his first destination, which we certainly appreciate. Now Georgian citizens can enjoy visa-free travel to Greece, a Schengen Area member state. It will promote the development of tourism, and it is a great achievement in Georgia-EU relations, of course. The Prime Minister and I discussed Georgia-EU relations. We will always be consistent in our support for Georgia's European aspirations, and we will continue to play an important role in this direction," Alexis Tsipras stated. 

Georgian government delegation led by Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili in company with Georgian students and representatives of various communities travelled to Europe on the first flight after the launch of visa-free travel with the EU. 
“It is the first historical visa-free travel of Georgian citizens to the EU/Schengen area. Visa liberalization offers Georgian citizens a broad spectrum of opportunities. Here are students who can freely establish contacts with their European friends and colleagues. Here are also businessmen who will be able to find partners throughout Europe, across the 500-million market. Visa-free travel also gives representatives of culture an access to various European programmes and funds and an opportunity to develop joint projects together with European partners” – Mikheil Janelidze said.  
The Georgian delegation will first arrive in Athens - the cradle of the European civilization, where they will take part in the Conference titled “Georgia from Europe to Europe”. While in Greece, the Georgian Prime Minister will meet his Greek counterpart Alexis Tsipras.
Members of the Georgian delegation will visit the historical part of the city and then will leave for Brussels where they will hold meetings Donald Tusk, President of the European Council and Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission. A reception evening will be held in Brussels on the occasion of Georgia’s visa liberalization.    

Georgia is returning to the European family-starting March 28, 2017, Georgia's citizens will enjoy visa-free travel in the EU/Schengen Area. In relation to the historic of fact of visa waiver, Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, in the company of Georgian students, scientists, media representatives, and members of the Government, will travel visa-free on March 28 from Tbilisi Shota Rustaveli International Airport to Athens, the capital of an ancient civilization, followed by Brussels, Europe's political center.
On March 28, the Prime Minister will open the Georgia-from Europe to Europe conference at the Kapodistrian University of Athens, attended by Georgian and Greek professors, students, and scholars.
Giorgi Kvirikashvili will holdGeorgia is returning to the European family-starting March 28, 2017, Georgia's citizens will enjoy visa-free travel in the EU/Schengen Area.
In relation to the historic fact of visa waiver, Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, in the company of Georgian students, scientists, media representatives, and members of the Government, will travel visa-free on March 28 from Tbilisi Shota Rustaveli International Airport to Athens, the capital of an ancient civilization, followed by Brussels, Europe's political center.
On March 28, the Prime Minister will open the Georgia-from Europe to Europe conference at the Kapodistrian University of Athens, attended by Georgian and Greek professors, students, and scholars.
Giorgi Kvirikashvili will hold a meeting with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, followed by a joint statement of the Prime Ministers. Together with students and scholars, the Prime Minister will visit the Acropolis of Athens. On the same day, the Georgian delegation will travel to Brussels where the Head of Georgian Government will hold bilateral meetings with President Donald Tusk of the European Council and President Jean-Claude Juncker of the European Commission. The parties will make joint statements.
On behalf of the Government of Georgia, a festive reception will be held in Brussels to honor representatives of the EU institutions.
The Georgian delegation consists of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education and Science Alexandre Jejelava, Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze, State Minister on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Victor Dolidze, Chair of Parliamentary Committee for European Integration Tamar Khulordava, Chair of the Committee for Foreign Relations Sopio Katsarava, Rector of the Tbilisi State University Gia Sharvashidze, associate Professor Irina Darchia (Department of Classical Philology at the Modern Greek Studies Institute), Archeologist Davit Lortkipanidze (Director General at the Georgian National Museum), Associate Professor Levan Gigineishvili, PhD in Philology (Ilia State University), author Zurab Karumidze, IDU (International Education Center) scholarship holders, Startup Georgia beneficiaries, successful new Greek studies and classical philology students of the Humanities Department at the Tbilisi State University, young people financed under the Produce in Georgia program, successful IDP students from Georgia's occupied territories, socially vulnerable students, and ethnic minority students. a meeting with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, followed by a joint statement of the Prime Ministers. Together with students and scholars, the Prime Minister will visit the Acropolis of Athens. On the same day, the Georgian delegation will travel to Brussels where the Head of Georgian Government will hold bilateral meetings with President Donald Tusk of the European Council and President Jean-Claude Juncker of the European Commission. The parties will make joint statements. On behalf of the Government of Georgia, a festive reception will be held in Brussels to honor representatives of the EU institutions.

The Georgian delegation consists of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education and Science Alexandre Jejelava, Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze, State Minister on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Victor Dolidze, Chair of Parliamentary Committee for European Integration Tamar Khulordava, Chair of the Committee for Foreign Relations Sopio Katsarava, Rector of the Tbilisi State University Gia Sharvashidze, associate Professor Irina Darchia (Department of Classical Philology at the Modern Greek Studies Institute), Archeologist Davit Lortkipanidze (Director General at the Georgian National Museum), Associate Professor Levan Gigineishvili, PhD in Philology (Ilia State University), author Zurab Karumidze, IDU (International Education Center) scholarship holders, Startup Georgia beneficiaries, successful new Greek studies and classical philology students of the Humanities Department at the Tbilisi State University, young people financed under the Produce in Georgia program, successful IDP students from Georgia's occupied territories, socially vulnerable students, and ethnic minority students.

The Prime Minister of Moldova congratulates Georgia's citizens on the coming into force of EU visa waiver, Pavel Filip told Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili at today's meeting.
The parties discussed prospects of deeper trade and economic cooperation between the countries and expressed hope that the Georgia-Moldova business forum and the meeting of the Intergovernmental Economic Commission, which are scheduled for the nearest future, will boost this process.
According to Giorgi Kvirikashvili, the Government of Georgia welcomes Moldova's interest in sharing Georgia's experience in successful reforms in a variety of fields.
The Prime Minister of Moldova invited his Georgian counterpart to Moldova. During the meeting, Pavel Filip reaffirmed Moldova's strong support for Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty. 

On March 1, 2017, Georgians have been granted the freedom to travel to the Schengen Area member states. The signing ceremony took place in Brussels on the same day, while the regulation will come into full effect on 28 March, 2017.

From 28 March, 2017 Georgian citizens holding biometric passports can travel to the Schengen Zone without a visa for a period of 90 days within any 180-day period for purposes other than working.

The European Commission submitted a legislative proposal on the visa liberalization for Georgia to the European Parliament. It was assumed that visa-free regime would be discussed for both countries as a package, Georgia and Ukraine, but the MEPs (Members of the European Parliament) decided to divide the two countries.

The negotiations on visa liberalization for Georgia started back in 2008 as part of the Eastern Partnership Program.

Georgia took part in the EU-Georgia talks back in June 2012, as a way used by the pro-Western government to win painful EU-sponsored reforms.

In order to travel freely, the citizens of Georgia will need to provide a biometric passport. On the other hand, Georgians will lose this freedom to travel if they:

• Suddenly start making numerous asylum requests
• Stay in the Schengen Zone for more than 90 days at a time
• Cause an increase in the risk of public policy and internal security

If such problems persist, the suspension can be extended up to 18 months, were also the European Parliament will get involved and continue a more complex procedure.

Giorgi Kvirikashvili, Georgia’s prime minister called this a truly historic day for the Georgians and expressed gratitude towards the EU member states.

This has proved to be the day that will bring Georgians closer to the European Union.