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The European Parliament and the European Council gave the thumbs up late last night to grant visa-free travel to the two countries on the edge of the bloc, ending an internal EU dispute. Some EU leaders had felt Brussels was reneging on pledges to ex-Soviet states it has promised to help as they try to move out from Moscow's shadow. And European Council President Donald Tusk yesterday warned the European Union was risking its credibility by failing to reward Georgia and Ukraine for painful reforms. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko hailed the move as "encouraging news from Brussels".

Getty Ukrainian and Georgian tourists will be able to enter the EU without visas

Kosovo, with a tiny population of 1.8m, could also soon join Ukraine and Georgia in having visa-free travel to the EU. There are several conditions in which governments can reimpose visa requirements quickly without lawmakers' approval for a minimum of a nine-month period which can be extended by 18 months. These include, if citizens from either country irregularly stay in the EU or there is a substantial increase in unfounded asylum applicants or a lack of cooperation on the returns of migrants

They can also reimpose visa requirement if there is a large increase of Ukrainians or Georgians refused entry, there is a threat to public policy or internal security related to nationals from the two countries. Ukrainians and Georgians will not be able to have visa-free travel to either the UK or Ireland who are out of the Schenghen free travel area. The deal still needs to be endorsed by the European Parliament as a whole, which will probably happen next week, as well as member state governments, a statement from the European Parliament said. But President Tusk tweeted his excitement at Ukraine and Georgia being able to have visa-free travel. He said: "Almost there. Visa suspension mechanism dispute over. "Now the final stretch towards visa free travel for Ukraine and Georgia."

Getty Donald Tusk and Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko embracing

Almost there. Visa suspension mechanism dispute over. Now the final stretch towards visa free travel for Ukraine and Georgia. — Donald Tusk (@eucopresident) December 8, 2016

The prospect of easier travel to Western Europe has been used by governments in Kiev and Tbilisi to win popular backing for painful, EU-sponsored reforms. But EU leaders got cold feet about opening doors to 45 million Ukrainians after the public backlash which followed last year's refugee crisis in Europe. Georgia, with only five million citizens, has long been seen as ready for visa liberalisation but has seen its hopes held hostage by EU hesitation over Ukraine, which is bigger, closer and currently stuck in conflict with Russia over the annexation of Crimea. The Netherlands held a referendum in April on whether Dutch people wanted Ukraine to have visa-free access to the EU, equal rights for workers, modernisation of Ukraine's energy infrastructure, access to the European Investment Bank and steps towwards the exchange of information and staff in the area of justice. A total of 61 per cent of those who voted said they were against Ukraine being granted the freedoms, however the Government has to propose a new act to gain parliamentary approval - which has not yet been proposed.

Facing strong challenges from anti-immigration parties in elections next year, leading powers France and Germany demanded strong controls before any visa deal. Conservative leader in the EU legislature, Manfred Weber, tweeted after the deal: "Europe is delivering."

Getty Donald Tusk (l) and Jean-Claude Juncker (r) met with President Poroshenko in Kiev this April

A similar plan to ease travel for Turkey's 75m mainly Muslim population has added to sensitivities in Brussels over the Georgia/Ukraine deal. The move could open the flood gates for other non-EU countries to be granted visa-free travel to the bloc.

What countries are in the EU? Wed, September 14, 2016 In the wake of Brexit, we look at the 28 member states that are in the European Union. Play slideshow Getty 1 of 29 Countries that are in the European Union

Slovak Interior Minister Robert Kalinak, who has chaired negotiations for EU member state governments, said: "The fact that we have reached an agreement should open the door to further progress on visa liberalisation talks with other countries that meet all the necessary requirements." Turkey was promised visa-free travel to the bloc as payment for engaging in a deal with the EU which involves taking back Syrian migrants from Greece.