Decision 2025/170 - Partial suspension of the application of the Agreement with Georgia on the facilitation of the issuance of visas

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1.

Current status

This decision entered into force on January 27, 2025.

2.

Key information

official title

Council Decision (EU) 2025/170 of 27 January 2025 on the partial suspension of the application of the Agreement between the European Union and Georgia on the facilitation of the issuance of visas
 
Legal instrument Decision
Number legal act Decision 2025/170
Regdoc number ST(2025)5045
Original proposal COM(2024)594 EN
CELEX number i 32025D0170

3.

Key dates

Document 27-01-2025; Date of adoption
Effect 27-01-2025; Entry into force Date of document See Art 2
End of validity 31-12-9999

4.

Legislative text

 

Official Journal

of the European Union

EN

L series

 

 

2025/170

28.1.2025

COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2025/170

of 27 January 2025

on the partial suspension of the application of the Agreement between the European Union and Georgia on the facilitation of the issuance of visas

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 77(2), point (a), and Article 218(9) thereof,

Having regard to the Agreement between the European Union and Georgia on the facilitation of the issuance of visas (1), and in particular Article 14(5) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

 

(1)

The Agreement between the European Union and Georgia on the facilitation of the issuance of visas (the ‘Facilitation Agreement’) entered into force on 1 March 2011.

 

(2)

The purpose of the Facilitation Agreement is to facilitate, on the basis of reciprocity, the issuance of visas for intended stays of no more than 90 days in any 180-day period to citizens of the Union and of Georgia. The Facilitation Agreement contributes to the enhancement of people-to-people contacts and the sharing of values, including respect for human rights and democratic principles.

 

(3)

Under Article 14(5) of the Facilitation Agreement, each Party is entitled to suspend the Facilitation Agreement in whole or in part for reasons of public order, the protection of national security or the protection of public health. A decision on suspension is to be notified to the other Party not later than 48 hours before its entry into force. The Party that has suspended the application of the Facilitation Agreement is to immediately inform the other Party once the reasons for the suspension no longer apply.

 

(4)

In 2024, Georgia adopted the ‘Law on transparency of foreign influence’ and the legislative package on ‘family values and protection of minors’. Those measures are assessed as undermining the fundamental rights of the Georgian people, including the freedom of association and expression, the right to privacy, the right to participate in public affairs, and as increasing stigmatisation and discrimination.

 

(5)

In its conclusions of 27 June 2024, the European Council underlined that the ‘Law on transparency of foreign influence’ represented backsliding on the steps set out in the Commission’s recommendation for candidate status and called on the Georgian authorities to clarify their intentions by reversing a course of action which jeopardised Georgia’s path towards the European Union, de facto leading to a halt of the accession process. In its conclusions of 17 October 2024, the European Council recalled that the course of action taken by the Georgian government jeopardised Georgia’s European path and de facto halted the accession process, and called on Georgia to adopt democratic, comprehensive and sustainable reforms, in line with the core principles of European integration.

 

(6)

On 28 November 2024, the Georgian authorities announced their intention not to seek the opening of accession negotiations with the European Union until 2028. That announcement provoked mass protests in numerous Georgian cities, to which the Georgian authorities responded with the use of disproportionate force and violent methods as well as arbitrary arrests and ill-treatment of protesters, politicians and journalists.

 

(7)

The actions taken by Georgia breach the fundamental principles on which the Facilitation Agreement was concluded and go against the interests of the Union and its Member States. In particular, these actions do not respect human rights and democratic principles and are therefore inconsistent with Union values and hamper the steady development of economic, humanitarian,...


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This text has been adopted from EUR-Lex.

5.

Original proposal

 

6.

Sources and disclaimer

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