EU-Georgia: delay in the visa liberalisation process

On 8 June 2016, the Committee of the EU’s Permanent Representatives decided, at the initiative of Germany supported by France and Italy among others, to defer the abolition of short-term Schengen visas to Georgia. This decision was primarily connected with the ongoing debate in the EU on the introduction of visa-free travel for Turkey, Kosovo and Ukraine. Germany had made its consent in the case of Georgia and Ukraine conditional on the European Union introducing a mechanism suspending visa-free travel if necessary, and another monitoring whether the state permitted visa-free travel was meeting the criteria.

This delay to the process of abolishing visas may also apply to Ukraine, which like Georgia has met all the EU’s conditions. Postponing the introduction of visa-free travel would increase disappointment with the EU in those countries. This is of particular importance in the case of Georgia, where Eurosceptic sentiments are strengthening. Parliamentary elections were held there in October 2016, and the lack of a decision by the EU on the visa issue is likely to lead to an increase in support for the pro-Russian parties. For Ukraine, this would be another move – after the Netherlands blocked the ratification of the Association Agreement in April 2016 – which inhibited the process of its moving closer to the EU.

ESO: Background information: Remarks by President Donald Tusk after his meeting with President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili http://www.europeansources.info/record/statement-remarks-by-president-donald-tusk-after-his-meeting-with-president-of-georgia-giorgi-margvelashvili/

ESO: Background information: Justice and Home Affairs Council, 09-10 June 2016 http://www.europeansources.info/record/justice-and-home-affairs-council-9-10-june-2016/

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