Researcher Gigiadze details EU’s new conditions for suspending visa-free travel

Gigi Gigiadze, senior researcher at the Economic Policy Research Center, has explained the European Union’s updated mechanism for suspending visa-free travel for third countries, highlighting that deterioration in foreign relations or human rights violations are now explicit grounds for suspension.

According to Gigiadze, the new rules agreed upon by the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers allow the EU to initially suspend visa-free travel for 12 months if a country breaches these conditions. This suspension can be extended to 24 months while the European Commission engages with the country to address the issues.

“If a positive result is not achieved during this period, the country risks permanently losing visa liberalization with Schengen and EU member states,” Gigiadze said.