On September 19, the European Union expressed its readiness to respond appropriately to developments in Georgia. 

European Commission Spokesperson Eric Mamer stated that all options are on the table if the ruling Georgian Dream party continues on its authoritarian path, including the potential temporary suspension of the visa liberalization scheme.

The spokesperson emphasized that Georgia was required to meet specific benchmarks, including protecting fundamental rights and preventing discrimination, as part of the EU-Georgia visa liberalization dialogue and the corresponding Action Plan.

The spokesperson further noted, “An assessment would, of course, take place in case of developments posing a risk to the internal security of the Schengen area, as well as in case of a further democratic decline in Georgia.” They also highlighted that the European Commission conducts an annual review to ensure that Georgia continues to meet the benchmarks for visa liberalization, adding, “Respect for fundamental rights is also a core principle of the accession process and will be assessed in the forthcoming enlargement report.”

Notably, under the 2017 visa liberalization agreement, Georgian citizens can stay in the EU and Schengen countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa - an achievement that has greatly benefited many Georgians who previously faced long visa application processes.