The European Commission Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs has sent a letter to Maka Botchorishvili, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia.

"Your Excellency,

Since 2017, Georgia has benefited from visa-free travel to the Schengen Area, following the successful completion of its visa liberalisation dialogue. Visa-free travel has been a key milestone in EU-Georgia relations, delivering tangible benefits to Georgian citizens. As required by Article 8(4) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (Visa Regulation) under the Visa Suspension Mechanism report, the European Commission provides a full assessment of the continued compliance with the visa liberalisation requirements for third countries that successfully completed a visa liberalisation dialogue.

On 6 December 2024, the European Commission adopted the Seventh Visa Suspension Mechanism Report. The Commission’s report underlined serious breaches of fundamental rights and freedoms by Georgia, including in relation to violations of the principle of non-discrimination, contradicting relevant European and international standards.

The Commission has consequently issued a number of recommendations. These include requesting the Georgian authorities to repeal the Law on `transparency of foreign influence` and the legislative package on `family values and protection of minors`, and to amend the national strategy and action plan on human rights to ensure that the rights of LGBTIQ persons are fully upheld.

A specific recommendation focused on amending the Law on the Anti-Corruption Bureau to address key Venice Commission recommendations, particularly those pertaining to the Anti-Corruption Bureau`s effective independence, political neutrality and functions. The full list of recommendations is enclosed in the annex to this letter.

In response to the absence of action from your government, in January 2025, the European Union decided to partially suspend the Visa Facilitation Agreement between the EU and Georgia and to end the visa exemption for holders of diplomatic and service passports. Accordingly, twelve Member States have imposed since then a visa requirement for holders of diplomatic and service passports issued by Georgia. More Member States are following through.

I would like to ask you to update the Commission on the implementation of these recommendations and, if not already done, to take appropriate measures to address the issues raised in all Commission recommendations (in annex).

I trust that the Georgian authorities will respond constructively and take the necessary measures to fully implement the Commission’s recommendations. The Commission will assess the compliance with the recommendations in the context of the next visa suspension mechanism report. Based on this assessment, in case of persisting non-compliance the Commission could take appropriate measures on the basis of the Article 8 of the revised Visa Regulation, specifically activating the visa suspension mechanism.

I count on your cooperation in addressing this important matter and I reaffirm the EU’s continued commitment to strong and values-based relations with Georgia", - reads the letter.

Annex – recommendations addressed to Georgia in the seventh visa suspension mechanism report:

a) Ensure and uphold the protection of fundamental rights of all Georgian citizens, including the freedoms of association, assembly and expression, the right to privacy, the right to participate in public affairs, as well as the prohibition of discrimination.

b) Avoid and repeal any legislation that may restrict fundamental rights and freedoms, go against the principle of non-discrimination and contradict relevant European and international standards. In particular, repeal the Law on `transparency of foreign influence` and the legislative package on `family values and protection of minors`, and amend the national strategy and action plan on human rights to ensure that the rights of LGBTIQ persons are fully upheld.

c) Align Georgia`s visa policy with the EU list of visa-required third countries, in particular with regard to countries presenting irregular migration or security risks to the EU.

d) Step up action to address the issue of unfounded asylum applications and irregular stays in Member States, such as information campaigns on the visa-free regime to relevant migrant profiles and stricter border checks.

e) Set up an Asset Recovery Office and Asset Management Office, and continue efforts in asset tracing, freezing, management, confiscation and disposal.

f) Adopt a new anti-corruption strategy and action plan, ensuring adequate resources for their implementation and pay special attention to investigation, prosecution, and adjudication of highlevel corruption cases.

g) Amend the Law on Anti-Corruption Bureau to address key Venice Commission recommendations, particularly those pertaining to the Anti-Corruption Bureau`s effective independence, political neutrality and functions.

h) Align the Law on Personal Data Protection with the EU acquis.