Georgia: EU may halt visa free regime for diplomatic passport holders by end of year
On 17 December, the Foreign Affairs Council exchanged views on recent developments in Georgia, and their impact on the Georgian people and Georgia’s European path, following the 28 November announcement by the government of its intention to suspend the country’s EU accession process until 2028, the subsequent mass protests, and the increasing acts of violence against protestors, the media, and the political opposition.
“The situation is not going in a positive direction for the Georgian people. Democracies do not oppress opposition voices or curtail the freedom of media,” Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative, told journalists after the Council.
The High Representative said the EU had downgraded political contacts and cut funding for the Georgian government, and announced that there was an agreement on the need to halt the visa free regime for diplomatic passport holders. The Commission will table a proposal on this already this year.
The Council agreed that, going forward, the EU will continue to stand with the Georgian people, including by redirecting funding from the authorities towards the civil society and independent media.
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