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European Commission proposes partial suspension of visa facilitation agreement with Georgia -UPDATED

20 December 2024 17:34 (UTC +04:00)

The European Commission has proposed to suspend part of the EU-Georgia Agreement on the facilitation of the issuance of visas, APA reports.

According to the press release of the European Commission, if the Council adopts this proposal, Georgian diplomats, officials and their families holding diplomatic and official passports would require a visa to travel to the EU for short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

Based on the proposal, visa facilitations such as shorter application times, lower visa fees, and the requirement to submit fewer supporting documents, would also no longer apply to Georgian holders of diplomatic and official passports.

“This proposal is a response to the violent repression by the Georgian authorities against peaceful protesters, politicians and independent media, which started after the authorities announced on 28 November to no longer pursue the opening of negotiations with the EU until 2028.

It is now for the Council to decide on today's proposal to partially suspend the Visa Facilitation Agreement. If the Council adopts the proposal, and once it enters into force, the Member States will have to take the necessary measures. This means that, in accordance with the principle of sincere cooperation, they will have to apply the visa requirement for holders of diplomatic, service/official passports and special passports issued by Georgia and notify those measures to the other Member States and the Commission," the press release states.

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17:20

The European Union is imposing visa restrictions on Georgian diplomats, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a post on the X platform, APA reports.

"The Georgian people have been protesting against the government’s choice to halt the EU path. Peaceful protests, met with police violence. Today we propose visa restrictions for Georgian diplomats. Our message to the leadership is clear: Stop harming your own people," von der Leyen noted.