Georgia’s Foreign Minister says ‘No danger’ to its citizens as EU tightens visa-free rules

Georgia’s Foreign Minister, Maka Bochorishvili sought to reassure the public that there is “no danger” to Georgia’s status as the European Union’s revised visa rules include Georgia.

The European Parliament voted on new rules allowing the European Union to more swiftly suspend visa-free travel arrangements with non-EU countries, citing concerns over security, human rights, and policy compliance. 

The reform applies to 61 countries whose citizens currently enjoy short-term visa-free access to the Schengen area, including Georgia.

Bochorishvili told reporters. “I can reassure you that you will not be suspended because of the Georgian Dream’s policy. We received visa-free travel thanks to the Georgian Dream’s policy, and we continue to meet all obligations tied to it.”

The minister also rejected the notion that Georgia’s relations with the EU were at risk, calling the current debate an “instrumentalization” of the topic for political purposes. 

“There is nothing to save from visa-free travel if there is a fair attitude toward Georgia,” she added. “Our country has consistently fulfilled all its commitments under the Association Agreement.”

Bochorishvili’s comments come amid broader discussions in Brussels over migration management and democratic standards. 

The European Parliament’s reform aims to strengthen the bloc’s ability to respond quickly to changing global conditions, but Georgian officials insist that Tbilisi’s cooperation with the EU remains strong and fully aligned with European requirements.

According to the European Parliament’s statement, the revised mechanism gives the European Commission broader powers to temporarily, and potentially permanently, reintroduce visa requirements if a partner country poses heightened security risks or sees a surge in irregular arrivals.

The new framework also adds several grounds for triggering a suspension including hybrid threats such as the instrumentalization of migration, investor citizenship schemes (so-called “golden passports”), inconsistency with EU visa policy, serious human rights or humanitarian law violations, and failure to comply with International Court of Justice rulings.

Copied