Papuashvili criticises EU pressure on Georgia visa-free travel

Europe (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Georgia’s Parliament Speaker Ilia Papuashvili criticised the EU’s visa warnings, saying Georgians easily get visas to the UK, Ireland, and the US, and dismissed Brussels’ threats as politically motivated.

As ANewsz reported, Georgia is facing rising tension over its visa-free travel with the European Union. Parliament Speaker Ilia Papuashvili spoke to reporters in Tbilisi and criticised the EU for calling visas a “curse” while presenting visa-free travel as a generous gift. 

Papuashvili pointed out that visas for diplomatic passport holders have existed for years without major problems. He called Brussels’ warnings about possible visa restrictions exaggerated and politically motivated. 

According to him, the EU is using pressure rather than real policy. Papuashvili noted that Georgian citizens regularly secure visas to countries such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the United States without facing significant difficulties.

“If a visa is treated as a curse, that suggests Europe believes its own embassies are so bureaucratic and dysfunctional that people should fear applying,”

Papuashvili said.

What is EU pressure on Georgia’s visa-free travel, Papuashvili Says?

Papuashvili also questioned the European Commission’s latest visa monitoring report. He suggested that authorities are preparing citizens for the chance that visa-free travel may not remain permanent. 

At the same time, the government wants to protect its position and resist what it sees as undue pressure from Brussels. Georgia continues to support European integration while also defending its national interests and managing public expectations about the EU.

Papuashvili argued that such statements suggest EU embassies are so slow and complicated that people should fear applying. He said this view exaggerates the challenge of getting visas and unfairly portrays European travel procedures as hard. 

As tensions between Georgia and the EU rise over visa-free travel between Georgia and the EU, the comments by Parliament Speaker Ilia Papuashvili are particularly relevant to the current situation. The EU granted Georgia visa-free access to the Schengen Area on March 28, 2022, marking a milestone on Georgia’s path toward joining Europe. The EU has been publishing reports to evaluate Georgia’s progress on border security, rule-of-law compliance, and developing anti-corruption laws.