Today, the European Commission proposed suspending part of the EU-Georgia Agreement on visa facilitation. If approved by the Council, Georgian diplomats, officials, and their families with diplomatic and official passports will require a visa for short stays of up to 90 days within 180 days. Benefits such as shorter application times, lower fees, and fewer documentation requirements will also be revoked for these passport holders.
However, this decision will not negatively impact people-to-people contacts, as Georgian nationals with ordinary passports will still enjoy visa exemption for short stays in the EU.
This proposal responds to the violent repression by Georgian authorities against peaceful protesters and media, especially after the 28 November announcement that negotiations with the EU would be halted until 2028.
Recent Georgian legislation, including the law on “Transparency of Foreign Influence” (adopted in May 2024) and the law on “Family Values and Protection of Minors” (adopted in September 2024), undermines fundamental rights that are central to EU values. Compliance with fundamental rights, including the effective implementation of anti-discrimination policies, is a crucial requirement for being granted visa liberalisation.
The EU has already initiated measures to address Georgia’s serious democratic backsliding. In June, the European Council acknowledged that the current course of action effectively halts the accession process. As the situation continued to deteriorate, and following discussions at the Foreign Affairs Council on 16 December, the Commission decided to propose suspending the visa exemption for Georgia’s diplomats and officials.
The EU allows visa-free entry for short stays for nationals from 64 non-EU countries. Georgia’s Agreement with the EU, effective 1 March 2011, facilitated visa issuance. In 2017, Georgia gained a general visa exemption.
