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- "Brick" at the entrance: what will the visa-free scandal lead to in relations between Georgia and the EU
"Brick" at the entrance: what will the visa-free scandal lead to in relations between Georgia and the EU
On June 11, European officials held talks with the Georgian authorities in Brussels on the issue of suspending visa-free travel. In Tbilisi, they say that the EU requires the republic to join the anti-Russian sanctions. According to the Georgian leaders, they are not going to do this, because "they do not change sovereignty for strawberries." Details can be found in the Izvestia article.
Strawberries with sovereignty
On June 11, European officials held talks with the Georgian authorities in Brussels on the issue of suspending visa-free travel. The results of these consultations will be reflected in the European Commission's December report on relations with Tbilisi. Based on it, the EU will decide in January which entry rules for Georgians will apply in the future.
At the same time, representatives of Brussels say that the issue arose due to violations of democratic principles and human rights in Georgia. "These actions are incompatible with the norms and values of the European Union and hinder the stable development of economic, humanitarian, cultural, scientific and other ties," European Commission spokesman Markus Lammert said.
In Georgia itself, they emphasize that in fact, the EU insists on political concessions. "They are demanding that we destroy our own country, saying that we must bring our visa policy in line with the visa policy of the European Union, that is, impose sanctions against Russia. In fact, we are being told to commit suicide, go into escalation mode," said Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili.
He added that European officials on the sidelines also insist on repealing the Georgian law on foreign agents. "We will not make decisions that could endanger the country and disrupt the country's security. We also advocate transparency of financing, as this is a matter of our independence," said the speaker of the Georgian parliament, stressing that "sovereignty is not exchanged for strawberries."
The language of blackmail
The crisis in relations between Georgia and the European Union escalated in the fall of 2024. At that time, parliamentary elections were held in the country, in which the ruling Georgian Dream party, which advocates a pragmatic domestic and foreign policy, won a landslide victory. Four pro-European parties have overcome the electoral barrier, but their votes do not influence decision-making.
Immediately after the elections, the head of the Georgian government, Irakli Kobakhidze, announced the suspension of the European integration process. According to him, Brussels actively interfered in the election campaign, manipulating the issue of the republic's membership in the EU. "We are a proud and self—respecting nation with a long history, so it is categorically unacceptable for us to consider integration into the European Union as a mercy," he stressed.
The head of the Georgian Government, Irakli Kobakhidze
Against this background, the pro-European opposition organized large-scale protests. For months, dissatisfied people blocked the central Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi, clashed with the police, and last fall, after the local elections, they tried to occupy the presidential palace building. In Brussels, after each surge of street activity, the Georgian authorities condemned, but said nothing about the instigators of the riots.
In this regard, relations between the EU and Georgia have deteriorated sharply. Brussels has deprived Tbilisi of promised financial assistance, including two grants of €121 million and €30 million. The republic's participation in regional security programs has been frozen. It is also known that European officials discussed the imposition of sanctions against Georgia, but abandoned this idea because the Hungarian authorities promised to use the right of veto.
Finally, in March of this year, the European Union suspended visa-free travel for holders of Georgian diplomatic and official passports. "If the country's authorities do not resolve the problems of governance and the rule of law, the suspension may be extended for up to 24 months," the European Commission said in a statement. It was also emphasized that in the future we will talk about the abolition of visa-free travel for all Georgian citizens.
At the same time, in Georgia, they react quite calmly to talk about canceling free entry to the EU. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said that Brussels has repeatedly demonstrated a disregard for democracy, and decisions regarding different countries are made based on political interests.
According to him, this can be seen in the example of Ukraine and Moldova, which have huge human rights problems, but no one is cutting them off from European integration. "This was evident in the example of Georgia in 2004-2012, when prisoners were literally tortured, but the European Union had no questions then," he stressed.
In turn, Kakha Kaladze, Secretary of the ruling party and Mayor of Tbilisi, noted that the Georgian authorities are ready for dialogue, friendship and cooperation, but they must take place in a constructive manner. "It's unacceptable for us if someone is talking to us while wagging a finger. Criticism and recommendations should be based on arguments, not on double standards," he explained.
Finally, Zviad Shalamberidze, a member of the ruling party, said that the European Union is trying to use the language of blackmail, but Brussels has almost no leverage left. "They have only visa liberalization among their arguments. I think that in the end nothing will change for the population of the country, the current regime will remain, and we will move on to a more pragmatic policy," he reasoned.
It is also clear why Georgia reacts cautiously to the EU's claims. Brussels has been expressing its dissatisfaction for several years, and it has not had any significant effect on the country's economy or internal political situation. On the contrary, Georgia is showing high growth rates in the current conditions. By the end of 2024, the country's GDP rose by 9.4%, compared with 7.5% last year.
This is largely due to the fact that the country's authorities are looking not only in the western direction, but are developing relations with different centers of power. By the end of 2025, Russia became one of the three main trading partners of Georgia. The trade turnover increased by 6% over the year and amounted to almost $2.7 billion.
In addition, on June 9, it became known that the level of relations between Georgia and China has increased to a comprehensive strategic partnership. Irakli Kobakhidze said that Beijing treats Tbilisi as an equal partner. "This should be an exemplary strategic partnership between the two countries based on mutual respect," he said.
What the experts say
Archil Sikharulidze, a political scientist and founder of the SIKHA Foundation Research Institute, recalled that European officials raise the issue of suspending visa-free travel with Georgia every three to four months. According to him, this is being done to provide moral support to the opposition and create tension in Georgian society.
— If we talk about relations between Brussels and Tbilisi in general, I don't see any prospects. Georgia is being dealt with in the European Union by absolutely inadequate people who consider the republic to be a backwater to which their views can be imposed. They do not understand and do not want to understand the specifics of the country, they do not see the reasons why the ruling party succeeds in elections over and over again. They don't realize that in Georgia after the rule of Mikhail Saakashvili, pro—Western forces have no chance of winning, because the population does not want to repeat that experience," he explained.
Shota Apkhaidze, an expert at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, said that the topic of visa-free travel is being used by the EU to blackmail the Georgian authorities.
— I do not think that the European Union will decide on this step. This is a technically difficult procedure. Moreover, in the event of a ban on free entry, relations with Georgia will become even more complicated, and the influence of Europeans on Georgian society will decrease. Probably, threats will continue to follow without their real implementation," the expert expressed his opinion.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
