Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The Council of the European Union has resolved to withdraw the visa exemption of Georgian diplomats and officials.
“The Council decided today to suspend parts of the EU-Georgia visa facilitation agreement. This may result in Georgian diplomats and officials requiring a visa to enter the EU,”
The statement said.
Under the partial revocation of the visa exemption arrangement, Georgian diplomats and officials will no extended be qualified for visa-free travel to the EU. Instead, they will be required to experience the visa application procedures once the new regulations enter into force, Schengen News reported.
Once the visa requirements are raised, in addition to being needed to apply for a visa, diplomats and officials in Georgia will also no longer be subject to facilitated regulations.
How will Georgian diplomats be affected by the suspension?
As described in the conclusion of the Council, Georgian diplomats and officials will now have to experience the regular application times, indicating that they will not aid from shorter times. Moreover, this group of foreign nationals will also be needed to pay the full Schengen visa fee, and they may also be requested to present additional supporting documents.
The further statement said,
“For travels to a member state which has reintroduced visa requirements, Georgian diplomats and officials will also no longer benefit from shorter application times, lower visa fees, and the possibility to submit fewer supporting documents.”
Why did the EU suspend visas for Georgian officials?
As reported by the EU Council, the decision is a response to the adoption last year by Georgia of a ‘Law on transparency of foreign influence’ and a legislative framework on ‘family values and protection of minors’. The EU believes that these legislations sabotage the fundamental rights of Georgian individuals, including the the right to privacy, freedom of association and expression, and the right to partake in public affairs and grow stigmatization and discrimination.
According to the EU, the measures taken by Georgia violate the fundamental codes on which the facilitation contract was concluded and go against the interests of the EU and its member states.
