Georgia needs to take further urgent action to avoid possible activation of the visa suspension mechanism, the Seventh Report of the European Commission to the European Parliament and Council under the visa suspension mechanism issued on December 7 for Georgia says.
The reelection of Georgia’s Dream Party as the ruling party on parliamentary elections of October 26 and the recent announcement of the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Kobakhidze, for suspension of membership talks between the EU and Georgia, until the end of 2028 has led the EU authorities to call for additional measures to Georgia, among them the suspension of the visa-free travel agreement, Schengen.News reports.
Recently, the Dutch Foreign Minister, Caspar Veldkamp, said that he would address a formal request to the EU in order to make it clear to the Georgian Government that the path they are taking comes with a price.
The European Union Ambassador to Georgia, Pawel Herczynski, last month said that the EU foreign ministers will discuss the issue of Georgia, including a potential suspension of a visa-free travel agreement with Georgiaat the upcoming meeting of the Council of Foreign Affairs scheduled for December 16.
Commission Expects Georgia to Make Progress on Visa Policy Alignment
The recent report of the European Commission is focused on several areas related to visa liberalisation, also taking into account visa policy alignment, border management, document security, as well as migration and asylum processes, among others.
In regard to visa policy alignment, the Seventh Report of the Commission under visa suspension agreement notes that Georgia made no progress related to the further visa policy agreement. In addition, the report says that “on the contrary”, with the signature of the visa waiver agreement with China, signed in April 2024, the divergence with the EU visa policy increased.
Georgia claims that, since it does not share any direct land border with the EU, its lack of visa policy alignment does not pose a risk for the EU in terms of irregular migration or security. However, the Commission recalls that visa policy alignment is a key objective for all countries in the EU’s neighbourhood and with EU membership goals.
Therefore, through the report, the Commission said that it expects further progress by Georgia in terms of visa policy alignment.
EU Introduces Several Recommendations to Georgia
In a bid to continue meeting all visa liberalisation benchmarks and avoid the possible activation of the visa suspension mechanism, the Commission said that Georgia needs to take further urgent action to address the Commission’s recommendations.
The recommendations, among others, include:
- Ensure and uphold the protection of fundamental rights of all Georgians.
- Avoid and repeal any legislation that may restrict fundamental rights and freedoms.
- Align Georgia’s visa policy with the EU list of visa-required third countries, especially related to countries posing irregular migration or security risks to the EU.
- Further action is needed to address the issue of unfounded asylum applications and irregular stays in EU Member States.
- Introduce an Asset Recovery Office and Asset Management Office, and intensify efforts in tracking freezing, management and confiscation.
- Adopt a new anti-corruption strategy and action plan, amend the Law on Anti-Corruption Bureau to address key Venice Commission recommendations, and align the Law on Personal Data Protection with the EU acquis.
In terms of any legislation that may restrict fundamental rights and freedoms, the Commission, in particular, refers to the adoption of the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence, which is similar to the foreign agent law of Russia and the Law on the Protection of Family Values and Minors.
In particular, repeal the Law on ‘transparency of foreign influence’ and the legislative package on ‘family values and protection of minors’, and amend the national strategy and action plan on human rights to ensure that the rights of LGBTIQ persons are fully upheld.
In the recent annual EU Progress Report concerning Georgia, the report noted that the decision of Georgia to adopt the Law on the transparency of foreign influence does not reflect the Government’s commitment to the path of the European Union.