The member states now have to implement the suspension of visa liberalization for Georgian diplomats in their domestic regulations, – said EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, at a press conference following the EU Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Brussels.
“Of course, we are closely monitoring the developments in Georgia, and we view this with great concern. We discussed this today and considered what more we can do to send signals to the Georgian government that this is not the right direction in terms of its European path, and that there are things we can still address. As for the suspension of visa liberalization [for diplomats], this decision was made by the member states today, and now they themselves need to implement it in their domestic regulations. This is how Europe works in this regard,” Kaja Kallas stated.
The Council of the European Union has decided to suspend parts of the EU-Georgia visa facilitation agreement.
The suspension of the visa facilitation agreement will apply to the following categories:
- Members of Georgia’s official delegations participating in official meetings and other events organized by intergovernmental organizations on the territory of an EU member state.
- Members of Georgia’s national and regional governments and parliaments, the Constitutional Court, and the Supreme Court of Georgia.
- Holders of diplomatic passports.
