Georgian Parliament Speaker dismisses EU visa suspension concerns as baseless

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili has dismissed any grounds for suspending Georgia’s visa-free travel with the European Union, responding to recent discussions in Brussels about tightening rules for third-country visa waivers.

“There is absolutely no basis for suspending Georgia’s visa-free regime,” Papuashvili stated. “As for arbitrariness and looking for excuses — naturally, we cannot be held accountable for others’ bad-faith actions.”

Papuashvili criticized the EU’s earlier decision to suspend visa-free access for diplomatic and service passport holders, calling it a violation of international agreements with Georgia.

“The European Union unilaterally violated an international treaty with Georgia by suspending visa-free travel for diplomatic and official passports. They have yet to cite any specific article justifying this move,” he noted, adding that such behavior reflects poorly on the EU as an institution. “If someone needs a pretext, they will always find one.”

His remarks come amid a broader tightening of EU visa policy. The European Council and European Parliament have recently agreed on new rules expanding the criteria under which visa-free travel can be suspended for third countries. In addition to existing conditions — such as surges in irregular migration or low asylum approval rates — the updated mechanism now includes “visa policy misalignment” as a valid reason for suspension.

This refers to cases where third countries, due to their geographic position or lax visa policies, may inadvertently allow nationals from other countries to enter the EU irregularly.

Despite the EU's updated stance, Papuashvili warned against what he described as politically motivated decisions by “some European actors” with harmful intentions toward Georgia.