Georgia's interests, as stated by Kaladze, are non-negotiable in exchange for EU visa liberalization.
In a recent development, Georgia is facing the possibility of having its visa liberalisation act with the European Union (EU) suspended, as indicated by a letter from the EU Commission's Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs to Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili.
The letter, sent in mid-July, urged Tbilisi to provide an update on the implementation of recommendations issued by Brussels by the end of August. However, the specific recommendations or breaches of fundamental rights and freedoms the commission is concerned about remain unclear.
The letter also noted that Georgia's inaction regarding these recommendations led to the suspension of visa exemption for diplomatic and service passport holders in January 2025. If Georgia continues to be non-compliant, the commission could activate the visa suspension mechanism based on article 8 of the revised visa regulation.
Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze, who is also a member and the secretary general of the Georgian Dream party, has expressed his disbelief and criticism towards the EU's potential move. In remarks made on Monday, he questioned the sincerity of European bureaucrats' concern for the Georgian people and Georgia, describing their attitude as 'fake'.
Kakha Kaladze also criticized European bureaucrats for their slanderous statements about Georgian Dream's anti-Western trajectory and policies. He stated that the country's 'state and national interests cannot be traded for visa liberalisation'.
The context suggests that this ongoing tension between Georgia and the EU is not new, and the letter is likely related to it. The EU Commission has speculated about suspending the visa liberalisation act with Georgia, citing 'serious breaches of fundamental rights and freedoms by Georgia'.
This speculation has caused outrage among Georgian political leaders, including Kakha Kaladze. The commission also asked Tbilisi to 'take appropriate measures to address the issues raised in all commission recommendations'.
As the deadline for an update approaches, it remains to be seen how Georgia will respond to the EU's concerns and whether the visa liberalisation act will indeed be suspended. The situation is being closely watched by both Georgian and European officials.
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