Image Source : Schengen.News
The Netherlands is calling on the European Union to suspend Georgia’s visa-free travel agreement due to the recent violence and unrest in the country. Dutch Foreign Affairs Minister Caspar Veldkamp announced his intention to submit a formal request to the EU, stating that the Georgian government’s actions come with consequences ¹. This move comes in response to the ongoing pro-EU protests in Georgia, which have resulted in over 300 arrests and have now entered their second week.
The protests were sparked by the Georgian Prime Minister’s announcement that the country’s EU membership talks would be suspended until 2028. The EU has expressed concerns about the government’s actions, with the European Parliament even calling for a re-run of the recent parliamentary elections within a year due to significant irregularities ¹. The Netherlands’ decision to call for the suspension of Georgia’s visa-free travel agreement is likely to be discussed among EU ministers on December 16.
The potential suspension of the visa-free travel agreement is just one of the options being considered by the EU in response to Georgia’s actions. The European Union Ambassador to Georgia, Pawel Herczynski, has stated that all options are on the table, including the possibility of ending the visa-free travel with Georgia . The situation is ongoing, with the EU continuing to monitor the situation in Georgia and consider its next steps.
