EU Suspends Visa-Free Travel for Georgian Diplomats and Officials
By Liza Mchedlidze
Tuesday, January 28, 2025
The Council of the European Union has announced the partial suspension of the EU-Georgia visa facilitation agreement, a move that could require Georgian diplomats and officials to apply for visas when traveling to EU member states.
The decision comes in response to concerns over Georgia's recent legislative and political actions, including the adoption of the controversial "Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence" and a legislative package on "family values and protection of minors." These measures, according to the EU, undermine fundamental rights such as freedom of association, expression, and privacy while fostering discrimination and stigmatization.
The Council also cited violent repression by Georgian authorities against peaceful protesters, opposition politicians, and independent media following the government's decision in November 2024 to postpone EU accession negotiations until 2028.
"These actions breach the fundamental principles on which the facilitation agreement was concluded," the Council stated, adding that they run counter to the interests of both the EU and its member states.
The suspension will affect Georgian diplomats, government officials, and members of constitutional and supreme courts. Specifically, these individuals will no longer benefit from reduced visa fees, shorter processing times, or fewer documentation requirements when traveling to EU member states that have reinstated visa obligations.
However, Georgian nationals holding ordinary passports will still enjoy visa-free travel to the EU for short stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period.
Polish Minister of the Interior and Administration Tomasz Siemoniak remarked, "Fundamental rights and democratic values are core principles of EU integration. Officials representing a country that tramples these values should not benefit from easier access to the EU."
The EU-Georgia visa facilitation agreement, effective since March 2011, aimed to streamline visa issuance for Georgian citizens. However, the agreement includes a clause allowing suspension for reasons of public order, national security, or public health.
In 2017, Georgian nationals were granted visa-free travel to the EU for short stays. Despite this, the current suspension underscores growing tensions between Georgia and the EU regarding the country's democratic trajectory.
Once the partial suspension takes effect, EU member states may implement national measures to reintroduce visa requirements for Georgian diplomats and officials holding diplomatic, service, or special passports.
While ordinary Georgian citizens retain their visa-free travel privileges, the suspension marks a significant diplomatic shift, highlighting the EU's growing frustration with Georgia's democratic backsliding and governance challenges.
