EU foreign ministers to discuss suspending visa-free travel with Georgia over protest crackdown

The European Union is considering suspending its visa-free regime with Georgia in response to what it views as the Georgian government's suppression of peaceful protests, according to a report by Politico citing diplomatic sources.

The issue is expected to be raised during the July 15 meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, where officials will discuss potential measures to increase pressure on the ruling Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia party.

Suspension of visa-free travel is one of several options being evaluated by the EU as it grapples with Tbilisi’s increasingly confrontational stance towards Brussels and civil society. 

According to Politico, the EU has refrained from taking action against the Georgian government in recent months due to opposition from a small group of member states. However, the violent dispersal of anti-government demonstrations and the adoption of controversial laws perceived as curbing democratic freedoms have reignited calls for a firmer response.

Georgia has enjoyed visa-free access to the EU’s Schengen area since 2017—a benefit seen as a key symbol of the country’s pro-European aspirations. Any move to suspend that status would mark a significant deterioration in EU-Georgia relations and could affect thousands of Georgian citizens who travel regularly to Europe for work, education, and tourism.

Brussels has repeatedly urged the Georgian government to uphold democratic standards and maintain alignment with the EU’s core values if it hopes to advance its bid for full membership.

By Khagan Isayev