EU Council Suspends Visa Facilitation for Georgian Diplomats and Officials

Following a proposal from the European Commission, the Council of the European Union has decided on January 27, 2025, to partially suspend the visa facilitation agreement with Georgia. This suspension specifically affects Georgian diplomats and officials, who will no longer be eligible for visa-free travel to the EU.

With the partial suspension of the visa exemption agreement, diplomats and officials from Georgia must now undergo the standard visa application process when traveling to the EU. These individuals, who previously enjoyed visa-free entry, will be required to comply with standard procedures once the new regulations take effect.

The Council of the European Union confirmed its decision to suspend parts of the EU-Georgia visa facilitation agreement, a move that will result in Georgian diplomats and officials needing a visa for EU travel. "Once the visa requirements are introduced, in addition to being required to apply for a visa, Georgian diplomats and officials will also no longer be subject to facilitated rules," the Council explained in its decision.

Under the revised regulations, Georgian diplomats and officials will now be subject to regular processing times, which means they will no longer benefit from expedited procedures. Additionally, they will be required to pay the full Schengen visa fee and may need to provide additional supporting documents.

The EU Council also stated that Georgian diplomats and officials traveling to an EU member state that has reinstated visa requirements will not be granted the previous privileges of shorter application times, reduced visa fees, or the ability to submit fewer supporting documents.

The suspension applies to three specific categories of Georgian nationals, as outlined by the EU Council: members of official Georgian delegations participating in meetings and events held within the EU by intergovernmental organizations, members of Georgia’s national and regional governments and parliaments, as well as judges of the Constitutional Court and Supreme Court, and holders of Georgian diplomatic passports.

However, Georgian citizens who hold ordinary passports will remain unaffected by this decision and will continue to enjoy visa-free short-term travel to the EU under the existing exemption agreement.

The EU’s decision to suspend visa-free travel for Georgian diplomats and officials comes as a response to recent legislative actions taken by the Georgian government. These include the adoption of a law on transparency of foreign influence and a legislative package concerning family values and the protection of minors. The EU contends that these measures infringe upon fundamental human rights and undermine democratic principles, which were key considerations in the establishment of the visa exemption agreement.

"Fundamental rights and democratic values are core principles of EU integration. Officials that represent a country which trample down these values should not benefit from easier access to the EU," said Polish Minister of the Interior and Administration, Tomasz Siemoniak.

The EU has emphasized that Georgia’s actions violate the principles on which the visa exemption agreement was based, reinforcing the rationale behind the suspension. The decision reflects the EU's commitment to upholding democratic values and human rights, holding Georgian officials accountable for the legislative directions taken by their government.

By fLEXI tEAM