EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas announced that the European Commission will publish a report on Georgia by the end of the year that could serve as a basis for suspending visa-free travel for certain groups after the meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg.
“Ministers made it clear that the situation regarding the rule of law and human rights in Georgia continues to deteriorate. Attacks on EU ambassadors have no place in democratic diplomatic relations,” Kallas said, referring to recent tensions between the Georgian government and European diplomats, including Germany’s recalled ambassador Peter Fischer.
Kallas stated that the upcoming European Commission report will assess whether Georgia continues to meet the conditions for visa liberalization which have been under scrutiny amid growing EU concern over democratic backsliding, pressure on civil society and restrictions on media freedom.
“The actions taken against civil society and independent media are not in line with the values that operate in the European Union,” Kallas added.
Her statement follows the European Parliament’s October 7 vote to make it easier to suspend visa-free regimes with third countries. The measure, supported by 518 MEPs, with 96 against and 24 abstentions, introduces a new procedure to react more timely to human rights or rule-of-law violations.
The final Council of Europe vote on the amendment is scheduled for November 17, with the mechanism expected to enter into force in early December.
