The EU Council suspended part of the EU and Georgia agreement in a simplified visa regime – Georgian diplomats and officials will have to look for a visa.
This was announced today, January 27, the EU Council press service.
Basic rights and democratic values are the basic principles of integration in the EU. Officials representing the country that violates these values should not benefit from easier access to the EU, ”said Tomash Simonyak, Minister of Internal Affairs of Poland, who currently presides in the EU Council.
It is noted that this decision is a response to:
- The adoption of Georgia last year of the resonant “Law on Transparency of foreign influence” and the legislative package on “family values and the protection of minors.” The EU believes that these legislative actions undermine the fundamental rights of the Georgian people, including freedom of associations and expression, the right to private life, the right to participate in public affairs and increase stigmatization and discrimination;
- The brutal repressions of the Georgian authorities against peaceful protesters, politicians and independent media, which began after the government announced no more negotiations with the EU on November 28, 2024 until 2028.
Thus, the refusal of the visa will be suspended for the following categories:
- Members of the official delegations of Georgia participating in official meetings and other events held in the EU country with intergovernmental organizations;
- members of national and regional governments and parliaments of Georgia, the Constitutional Court of Georgia and the Supreme Court;
- Owners of diplomatic passports.
Citizens of Georgia, who own ordinary passports, will continue to use the visa when traveling to the EU for a short stay, ”the EU Council said.
Georgia was called negotiations in the EU until 2028
Source: Racurs
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