A meeting between Georgian and European Commission delegations was held in Brussels on June 11 within the framework of the visa liberalization dialogue, during which the sides discussed the European Commission’s March 6 decision to temporarily suspend visa-free travel for holders of Georgian diplomatic, service and official passports, Georgia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said.
Ministry says the European Commission’s decision was based on a report that “unfairly assesses the situation in Georgia” and does not allow for objective conclusions. The MFA described the suspension of visa-free travel for holders of diplomatic, service and official passports as unjustified.
Despite its criticism of the decision, the Georgian delegation reviewed the reasons cited by the European Union for activating the visa suspension mechanism, the recommendations issued by the European Commission, and the measures Georgia has taken or is implementing to address them.
During the meeting, the Georgian side stressed that the country’s Constitution and legislation guarantee fundamental rights and freedoms, including freedom of expression, assembly, association, privacy and equality before the law. The delegation also underlined that Georgia has effective national mechanisms for protecting human rights and continues to strengthen relevant institutions.
MFA says Georgian representatives pointed to the regular protests organized by political parties and civil society groups as evidence that the right to peaceful assembly and demonstration is protected in the country.
The delegation also addressed concerns related to the protests that took place in 2024, noting that investigations remain underway into alleged abuses of authority by public officials and law enforcement officers. According to the ministry, five individuals have been detained and criminal proceedings launched against them on charges related to abuse of power and obstruction of journalists’ professional activities during the dispersal of protests.
The Georgian side further emphasized that laws adopted by the country’s elected legislature serve public and national interests and do not contradict Georgia’s international obligations.
The meeting also covered anti-discrimination policies, migration management, efforts to combat illegal migration, and cooperation on readmission with EU member states and agencies. Georgian officials highlighted progress in anti-corruption reforms, including the establishment of an asset recovery department, work on a new anti-corruption strategy, and efforts to strengthen the institutional capacity of the State Audit Office.
MFA says the Georgian delegation reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring the sustainability of the visa liberalization regime with the European Union, while stressing that political manipulation of the issue is unacceptable.
“The Georgian side reconfirmed its readiness to continue constructive cooperation with the European Union based on mutual respect, equality and common interests, underscoring the importance of high-level political dialogue,” the ministry said.
The European Union introduced visa-free travel for Georgian citizens in 2017. In March 2026, the European Commission temporarily suspended visa-free travel for holders of Georgian diplomatic, service and official passports, citing concerns related to democratic governance, human rights and the rule of law. The measure does not affect ordinary Georgian citizens travelling to the EU under the visa-free regime.
Image source: Netgazeti
