The European Commission has confirmed its intention to limit the visa-free regime for Georgia

ILLUSTRATION PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

The European Commission announced on December 19 that after the entry into force of the new rules, the EU will suspend the liberalization of the visa regime for holders of Georgian diplomatic passports.

Source: “European truth” with reference to “Radio Liberty”

Details: On December 19, the European Commission presented its annual report on non-EU countries whose citizens have the right to visa-free entry for up to 90 days within 180 days.

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The European Commission said Tbilisi had “breached numerous commitments made during the visa liberalization dialogue” and accused it of failing to implement the recommendations of last year’s report, such as the protection of fundamental rights, including freedom of association, assembly and expression.

In that report, Brussels also criticized the Georgian government’s controversial legislation on “transparency of foreign influence” and “family values ​​and protection of minors”.

The report states that “given the systemic and deliberate nature of this derogation, the commission will consider appropriate measures under the revised visa suspension mechanism, which will take effect on December 30, 2025.”

Diplomatic sources told RFE/RL that most EU member states would like to at least suspend visa liberalization for Georgian politicians without affecting ordinary citizens.

However, the European Commission admits that the second stage of the suspension “may be extended to the entire population, if the Georgian authorities do not solve” the problems specified in the report.

It is also added that at the last stage “Georgia may completely lose its visa-free status and be transferred to the EU list of third countries for which a visa is required.”

As “Evropeyska Pravda” reported, on October 7, the European Parliament voted for a draft law introducing a simpler mechanism for suspending the visa-free regime for countries that pose a threat to EU security or violate human rights.

The reform affects 61 countries whose citizens can currently travel to the Schengen area without visas for up to 90 days in a 180-day period.

For today the EU visa-free regime was canceled only for one country – Vanuatu.

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