TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia has started negotiations with the EU about liberalization of visa rules.

Today, the EU Commission’s Director General for Development met the Georgian deputy foreign minister in Brussels.

According to Georgia’s foreign ministry, the European Commission will send an observer mission to Georgia in mid September.

Tbilisi, on its part, has put together a working group to prepare an action plan for how to coordinate rules for an easing of visa rules with the EU.

During his visit to Brussels, Deputy Foreign Minister Thornike Gordadze met Stefano Manservisi, Director General for Development at the European Commission and Pierre Vimont, the Secretary-General of the European External Action Service.

Topics during the meeting between Vimont and Gordadze were progress in the negotiations on an association agreement and a deep and comprehensive free trade agreement, reforms in Georgia, the situation before the elections and security issues.

During the meeting, Georgia was given rules for how to act during the negotiations.

Georgia has already signed a visa facilitation agreement with the EU, which came into force on March 1, 2011. It foresees the simplification of visa procedures for Georgian citizens, and the development of an embassy infrastructure in Georgia, as well as other issues.