Brussels, 20 December 2024
Today, the EU Commission is proposing to suspend part of the EU-Georgia Agreement on the facilitation of the issuance of visas.
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.
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 Decision would not have a negative impact on people-to-people contacts, as Georgian nationals who are holders of ordinary passports will continue to benefit from the visa exemption when travelling to the EU for short stays.
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.In addition, recent Georgian legislation including ‘on transparency of foreign influence’ (adopted in May 2024) and on ‘family values and protection of minors’ (adopted in September 2024), undermines fundamental rights that lie at the core of the EU’s values.
Compliance with fundamental rights such as the effective implementation of anti-discrimination policies is a crucial requirement to be granted visa liberalisation. The EU has already taken measures to respond to Georgia’s serious democratic backsliding: in June, the European Council noted that the current course of action was leading to a de facto halt of the accession process. As the situation continued to worsen, and following discussions at the Foreign Affairs Council on 16 December, the Commission decided to propose the suspension of the visa exemption for Georgia’s diplomats and officials.
Next steps
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. Equally Member States will have to cease applying the current facilitations for Georgian holders of diplomatic and official passports, such as shorter application times, lower visa fees, and the possibility to submit less supporting documents. For the visa applications
Background
The EU currently has a visa-free regime with 64 non-EU countries and entities. Nationals of these countries may enter the Schengen area for short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa.The Agreement between the European Union and Georgia on the facilitation of the issuance of visas entered into force on 1 March 2011. The purpose of this Agreement is to facilitate, on the basis of reciprocity, the issuance of visas for short stays. In 2017, following the successful completion of a Visa liberalisation dialogue, Georgia was granted a general visa exemption for short stays. The European Commission conducts an annual review of the fulfilment of the visa liberalisation benchmarks.
More information
- Agreement between the European Union and Georgia on the facilitation of the issuance of visas
- Commission adopted the seventh report under the Visa Suspension Mechanism – European Commission
- Visa policy – European Commission
- Strengthening the EU’s visa free regime
- Visa suspension report
Quote(s)
Today’s proposal is the EU’s resolute reaction to Georgian’s government serious democratic backsliding, with, amongst others, violent repression against peaceful protesters, political opponents and independent media . Visa liberalisation is key to facilitate mobility between the EU and partner countries around the world. Those who fail to respect fundamental rights should not benefit from this freedom. The EU stands with the Georgian people.
Today we are taking action to hold Georgian authorities accountable for the violent repression of peaceful protests. This sends a clear message to the Georgian authorities that they cannot repress opposition voices or curtail freedom of expression without consequences. We have already downgraded political contacts and redirected funding away from the authorities towards the Georgian people, to civil society and independent media. We will continue to stand with the Georgian people on their EU path. Sanctions on Georgia have also been put on the table and we will continue to discuss additional measures.
Visa policy is a very powerful tool. Today’s proposal is part of the EU’s united response to the Georgian authorities’ democratic backsliding. These developments go against the interests of the Georgian people, the EU and its Member States.
Source – EU Commission