TBILISI, DFWatch–When foreign ministers from EU member countries meet in Luxembourg on Monday, three of the topics on their agenda are about Georgia: the rise in anti-EU disinformation, possible sanctions over alleged human rights violations, and whether to suspend Georgia’s visa-waiver program to the Schengen Area.

Georgia has enjoyed visa-free travel to the EU since March 2017. However, concerns about democratic backsliding and government rhetoric have fueled discussions among EU member states, led by Poland’s Donald Tusk. Tusk is reportedly lobbying for a full halt in visa-free entry for all Georgian nationals, which would be a drastic escalation.

A less severe option would be to just target officials. This option will become available if a planned upgrade to the visa-waiver rules is approved on Monday. So far, most EU capitals are against punishing all Georgian citizens, EU Ambassador to Georgia, Pawel Herczyński, confirmed, as quoted by Rezonansi.

Analysts expect a full halt in visa-free travel for Georgians may be pushed back until after Georgia’s October local elections.

In Tbilisi, government officials view the talk of a full suspension as pressure, calling it “blackmail,” while many among the opposition fear it would signal a breakdown in relations with Brussels.