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Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botochorishvili, has said that the Council of the EU’s decision to suspend EU-Georgia visa-free travel agreement for Georgian diplomats and officials is politically wrong.
Botochorishvili further said that legally, the decision is groundless and nonsense, Schengen.News reports.
The Minister told Euronews that she thinks that the decision is against European values.
Botchorishvili emphasised Georgia’s willingness to become part of the European Union.
EU Council Decided to Partially Suspend Visa-Free Travel Agreement With Georgia Earlier This Week
On January 27, the Council of the European Union agreed to suspend the EU-Georgia visa-free travel agreement.
The decision means that Georgian diplomats and officials will be required to apply for a visa when travelling to the EU. They will also no longer be able to enjoy some benefits such as shorter application times, the possibility to submit fewer supporting documents as well as lower fees.
The reelection of the party that has been the ruling party in Georgia for 12 years, in the parliamentary elections of October 2024, amid concerns of stolen elections and other concerns of distancing Georgia from the bloc, caused controversies in this country.
But the ongoing protests in Georgia erupted on October 28, 2024, after the announcement of Georgia’s PM to suspend EU membership talks until 2028.
The Council of the EU’s decision also came following Georgia’s decision of last year to adopt the Law on transparency of foreign influence and legislative packages on family values and protection of minors.
However, Hungary recently said that it will not support the EU’s decision to suspend visa-free travel for Georgian diplomats and officials.
Furthermore, the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, and his Hungarian counterpart, László Kövér, yesterday, January 27, signed an agreement aimed at further strengthening bilateral ties.
Source: https://schengen.news/eus-suspension-of-visa-free-travel-for-georgian-diplomats-officials-groundless-foreign-minister-says/
