TBILISI, November 17 – The European Union has approved a major overhaul of its visa-free suspension rules, giving Brussels new powers to halt visa-free travel for citizens of third countries more quickly and for longer periods when EU interests are at risk. The European Council announced Monday that member states had given their final political … Read more
TBILISI, October 21 – Georgia’s ruling party accuses the European Union of using visa-free travel as a “blackmail” tactic, while Brussels warned that parts of Georgia’s population could lose visa privileges amid concerns over democracy and rule of law. At the meeting on October 20 in Luxembourg, EU foreign ministers indicated that new regulations coming … Read more
TBILISI, October 13 – The European Union’s new border control system came into effect on October 12, replacing traditional passport stamps with biometric screening for travelers entering or leaving the bloc. The system, officially called the Entry/Exit System (EES), applies to citizens of all non-EU countries. From now on, border guards at airports and land … Read more
TBILISI, September 25 – Two party tops in the former ruling UNM demand that the European Union must only slap visa sanctions on their country’s political leaders, not its people. This is the message chair Tina Bokuchava and deputy chair Levan Sanikidze brought with them as they toured the famously noisy European Parliament as well … Read more
TBILISI, September 15 – Two weeks after a deadline expired, Georgia is still waiting for answers from Brussels on whether its citizens will keep the right to travel visa-free to the European Union’s Schengen Area. Now, the European Commission’s silence is beginning to get on the nerves of officials, analysts, and the general public in … Read more
TBILISI, September 1 – The European Commission confirmed that it has received a formal response from the Georgian government regarding a letter sent on July 14. Commission spokesperson Markus Lammert told reporters the reply arrived yesterday and will now be evaluated in Brussels. He declined to reveal the content of the letter. “The Commission does … Read more
TBILISI, August 30 – Authorities in Tbilisi are preparing for tense weeks ahead as a deadline set by Brussels expires tomorrow. The European Commission has given the Georgian Dream (GD) government eight demands to meet by August 31. Two are seen as non-negotiable by both sides: repealing a ban on so-called “LGBT propaganda” and scrapping … Read more
TBILISI, August 24 – Georgia’s ruling party says it does not expect the European Union to suspend the country’s visa-free travel, but admits September could bring announcements from Brussels that stir public anger. The European Commission has set August 31 as a deadline for Georgia to comply with eight reform demands, ranging from judicial independence … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has declared that peace and stability take precedence over retaining visa-free travel to Europe, rejecting a demand to cancel several laws considered anti-European by Brussels. “If the choice is between peace and stability, or visa liberalization, we will choose peace and stability,” he said. “Going to Europe with or … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has declared that peace and stability take precedence over retaining visa-free travel to Europe, rejecting a demand to cancel several laws considered anti-European by Brussels. “If the choice is between peace and stability, or visa liberalization, we will choose peace and stability,” he said. “Going to Europe with or … Read more