{"id":156401,"date":"2025-01-29T03:00:04","date_gmt":"2025-01-29T02:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cde.ual.es\/?p=156401"},"modified":"2025-01-28T11:37:55","modified_gmt":"2025-01-28T10:37:55","slug":"georgia-council-suspends-visa-free-travel-for-diplomats-and-officials","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cde.ual.es\/en\/georgia-council-suspends-visa-free-travel-for-diplomats-and-officials\/","title":{"rendered":"Georgia: Council suspends visa-free travel for diplomats and officials"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today, the Council decided to suspend parts of the EU-Georgia visa facilitation agreement. This may lead to Georgian diplomats and officials having to apply for visa when travelling to the EU.<\/p>\n

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“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.”<\/p>\n

Tomasz Siemoniak, Polish Minister of the Interior and Administration<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

For travels to a member state which has reintroduced visa requirements, Georgian diplomats and officials will also no longer benefit from shorter application times, lower visa fees, and the possibility to submit fewer supporting documents.<\/p>\n

Democratic backsliding and repression<\/span><\/h2>\n

The decision is a reaction to the adoption last year by Georgia of a ‘Law on transparency of foreign influence’ and a legislative package on ‘family values and protection of minors’. The EU considers that these legislations undermine the fundamental rights of the Georgian people, including the freedom of association and expression, the right to privacy, the right to participate in public affairs, and increases stigmatisation and discrimination.<\/p>\n

The actions taken by Georgia breach the fundamental principles on which the facilitation agreement was concluded and go against the interests of the EU and its member states.<\/p>\n

The proposal is also a response to violent repression\u00a0by the Georgian authorities against peaceful protesters, politicians and independent media, which started after the government announced on 28 November 2024 to no longer pursue the opening of negotiations with the EU until 2028.<\/p>\n

Affected persons<\/span><\/h2>\n

The visa facilitation agreement will be suspended for the following categories:<\/p>\n