The European Union and Georgia enjoy a very close and positive relationship. The EU-Georgia Association Agreement entered into force in July 2016 and strives for political association and economic integration. The EU and Georgia have also entered into a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), while Georgian citizens have been benefitting from visa-free travel to the Schengen area since 28 March 2017. The EU is Georgia’s largest trading partner and provides over 350 million GEL (€120 million) to Georgia annually in grant assistance.