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On 15 October, Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the New Group of Friends of Georgia, which encompasses Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Sweden, addressed the Minister of State and Foreign Affairs of the EU Portuguese Presidency and European Commission members. The Ministers emphasized the necessity to revise visa issuance procedures to the citizens of Georgia.

The letter addressed to Minister of State and Foreign Affairs of the Portuguese Republic Luís Filipe Marques Amado, European Commissioner responsible for Justice, Freedom and Security Franco Frattini and European Commissioner for External Affairs and European Neighbourhood Policy Benita Ferrero Waldner draws attention to the fact that in the separatist regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which are considered to be a part of Georgia by the international community, the visa regime is facilitated to  the citizens of Russia, which is not fair, as it is not applied to the citizens of Georgia.

The letter stresses that Georgia is prepared to introduce new biometric passports and other measures improving the safety of documents, to strengthen border control, and expects the assistance of the EU.

During the meeting of the New Group of Friends of Georgia in Vilnius, in September, it was agreed that closer cooperation between Georgia and the EU, as well as that one with NATO, is especially important in order to guarantee the security of the region of South Caucasus and whole Europe, in order to improve the relations of this country with Russia.

During the meeting participants undertook a task to support the idea of signing the free-trade agreement between Georgia and the EU, and encouraged other EU countries to provide assistance with respect to the goals of this country of South Caucasus, as they foster democracy throughout the region.