The Foreign Affairs Council meeting on January 27 discussed the developments in Georgia and decided to suspend visa liberalization for holders of Georgian diplomatic and service passports, APA reports citing Civil Georgia.
The decision will enter into force in the coming days.
The decision did not require unanimity and only 15 countries votes were sufficient for it to be adopted. Hungary and Slovakia voted against the decision.
Ahead of the meeting, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said that in addition to the Council’s discussions on the suspension of the EU-Georgia visa-free regime for holders of Georgian diplomatic and service passports, the bloc’s direct financial assistance to the GD government would be redirected from the government to Georgian civil society and media.
Commenting on the decision, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said: “Today we are taking the decision to suspend the visa-free regime for diplomats and officials of the Georgian government, whom we once again urge to stop the repression against demonstrators, journalists and representatives of civil society organizations.” He added: “The Georgian people have consistently and relentlessly expressed their European aspirations for democracy and freedom. These aspirations must be heard”.
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