EU Commission Proposes Suspension of Visa-Free Travel Agreement for Georgian Diplomats & Officials

The European Commission has proposed today, December 20, the partial suspension of the EU-Georgia visa-free travel agreement.

If approved by the Council, Georgian diplomats, officials and their family members would be obliged to apply for a visa to travel to the EU countries for short-term stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period, Schengen.News reports. 

The proposal that affects only Georgian diplomats and officials comes as a response to the violent repression by authorities in Georgia against protesters, who are now on their 22nd day, following the announcement of the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Kobakhidze, of suspension of membership talks with the EU until 2028. 

Through a statement, the Commission said that the decision would not have a negative impact on people-to-people contacts after Georgian nationals, as holders of ordinary passports, will continue to benefit from the visa exemption when travelling to the EU for short stays.

EU Foreign Ministers Have Already Agreed to Suspend Visa-Free Travel for Georgian Diplomats 
In the meeting of December 16 of the Foreign Affairs Council, the European Union Foreign Ministers already agreed to halt the visa-free regime for Georgia’s diplomatic passport holders. 

The Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Kobakhidze, considered the decision an “unequivocally anti-Georgian step”.

The proposal was set to be tabled by the European Commission. 

Ahead of the Foreign Affairs Council meeting, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and President of the Foreign Affairs Council, Kaja Kallas, said that the situation in Georgia is not going in the right direction for citizens of Georgia. 

No More Facilitations for Georgian Diplomats 
If the Council adopts the proposal, and once it takes effect, the EU member states will have to introduce visa requirements for holders of diplomatic, service/official passports and special passports issued by Georgia. 

It also means that Georgian holders of diplomatic and official passports would no longer be subject to visa facilitation.

Hungary & Slovakia Vetoed Proposal to Sanction Georgian Officials Involved in Repression of Pro-EU Protests 
The High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and President of the Foreign Affairs Council, Kaja Kallas, also proposed sanctions on officials in Georgia who were involved in the repression of the ongoing pro-EU protests in Georgia. 

The reelection of the Georgian Dream party as the ruling party in October 2024 sparked controversies among Georgian and EU authorities amid claims that the elections were unfair and should be re-run. 

In the annual EU Progress Report concerning Georgia, the report emphasised that the decision of Georgia to adopt the Law on the transparency of foreign influence, in particular, does not reflect the Government’s commitment to the path of the European Union.

Source: https://schengen.news/eu-commission-proposes-suspension-of-visa-free-travel-agreement-for-georgian-diplomats-officials/