Georgia and the European Union have held their first working-level talks in Brussels following the EU's decision to suspend visa-free travel for holders of Georgian diplomatic, service and official passports.
The move marks a rare and significant shift for the bloc, from monitoring a candidate country's reforms to actively withdrawing one of the benefits linked to them.
The meeting, held on 11 June between a Georgian delegation and representatives of the European Commission, was described by both sides as the opening session of an in-depth dialogue required under EU visa regulations once a suspension mechanism has been triggered.
According to the EU Delegation to Georgia, the process follows a decision taken in March 2026, when member states agreed to suspend visa-free travel for holders of these passports for an initial period of 12 months.
The EU Delegation said the suspension was based on Georgia's failure to meet commitments made under the visa-free regime, particularly in the areas of democracy and fundamental rights.
The Brussels meeting was intended to address the circumstances behind that decision.
Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Bochorishvili told journalists that the meeting gave the Georgian side an opportunity to set out its position on each issue raised by the European Commission in connection with the suspension.
She described it as the first in a series of expected sessions, focused mainly on an exchange of information rather than a discussion of next steps.
Bochorishvili said Georgia hopes the European Union will give greater weight to what she called the legitimate arguments and positions presented by the Georgian side, adding that the country expects the dialogue to continue.
Earlier, Georgia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the European Commission's assessment underpinning the suspension was based on a report it considers one-sided, while stressing that Georgia's laws guarantee fundamental rights, including freedom of expression and assembly.
The ministry also pointed to ongoing efforts on judicial reform, anti-corruption measures and migration cooperation with the EU.
Neither side indicated when the next round of talks would take place.
U.S. President Donald Trump said there was an "all-day negotiation" on Tuesday with Iran, characterising the talks positively while also threatening t...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 5th of August, covering the latest developments....
SpaceX has reported a sharp rise in quarterly revenue, fuelled by strong demand for its Starlink satellite internet service and rapid growth in its ar...
U.S. President Donald Trump says Iran has a "last chance" to sign what he described as "a good document", claiming talks are continuing at Tehran's request with backing from Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar.
Tehran had made plans to strike sites in Ukraine after Kyiv attacked an Iranian cargo ship in the Caspian Sea, a senior Iranian military adviser has said. Iran refrained from taking action after Kyiv said the strike was a mistake, Mohsen Rezaei told the state IRIB TV channel.
Indonesian rescue teams are searching for 28 people still unaccounted for, three days after a passenger ferry caught fire off the coast of Madura island.
Nauru, the world’s third smallest country, has changed its name to Naoero, the Pacific island nation’s President said. The new name corresponds to the spelling and pronunciation in the national language.
The U.S. has made its visa bond programme permanent for citizens of 50 countries, requiring some business and tourist visa applicants to pay refundable deposits of up to $20,000. Several Central Asian countries remain on the list, but Uzbekistan is not.
The U.S. has made its visa bond programme permanent for citizens of 50 countries, requiring some business and tourist visa applicants to pay refundable deposits of up to $20,000. Several Central Asian countries remain on the list, but Uzbekistan is not.
Kazakhstan is set to become the first country in Central Asia to introduce electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxis into its transport system.
The wreckage of a Pan American Airways passenger plane that crashed in 1952 has been located on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean after a seven-year investigation led by the Air/Sea Heritage Foundation in partnership with the Discovery Channel, according to a recent press release.
Afghanistan and Türkiye are considering a tourism agreement to promote historic and religious sites, ease travel and train tourism workers, Afghan authorities said after talks in Kabul on Monday.
The European Union's General Court has dismissed Ryanair's appeals against an Italian state aid scheme approved by the European Commission in 2020 to support airlines during the COVID-19 pandemic.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment