EU Visa-Free Travel for Georgians at Stake Amid Controversial Law
On June 4, Paweł Herczyński, the EU Ambassador to Georgia, stated that the EU will consider all options, including suspending visa liberalization, in response to Georgia's adoption of the foreign agents law.
"We need to check if, given the [Law on] Transparency of foreign influence, those conditions still apply to Georgia," Ambassador Herczyński stated. He noted that a simple majority of votes, rather than unanimity among EU members, is required to suspend the visa-free regime for Georgia for six months, adding, "I am sure that it will be one of the options, and member states will have to decide."
Ambassador Herczyński expressed concern that such a measure would impact ordinary Georgian citizens, who would have to pay a heavy price. He emphasized that he personally does not believe this is the EU's goal, though he concluded, "At the end, the decision will be reached by member states in the coming weeks."
Regarding potential changes to the EU's financial assistance to Georgia following the adoption of the foreign agents law, Herczyński acknowledged this as a possible course of action. He mentioned that the European Union might limit, divert, or refocus the financial support that has been provided to Georgia for many years, which amounts to 100 million euros annually. Ambassador Herczyński also touched on the EU enlargement process, recent EU-Georgia relations, the GD conspiracy concerning the so-called "Global War Party," and the controversial foreign agents law.
He asserted that the big wave of EU enlargement is imminent and expressed regret that when the EU doors were finally opened to Georgia, there was hesitation, second thoughts, and confusion. He voiced a hope that Georgia would take advantage of the current accelerated EU enlargement policy.
When asked about the Foreign Agents law and its incompatibility with Western values, Herczyński cited the legal analysis of the law by the Venice Commission and the OSCE/ODIHR, noting that the legislation pushed by the GD does not resemble any Western laws.