Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the partial suspension of the application of the Agreement between the European Union and Georgia on the facilitation of the issuance of visas
Date: 2024-12-20
Institutions: Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, European Commission
Subjects: EU visa policy, Georgia, Schengen Agreement, agreement (EU), external border of the EU, foreign national, official visit, revision of an agreement

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   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 20.12.2024  COM(2024) 594 final 2024/0329 (NLE)  Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the partial suspension of the application of the Agreement between the European Union and Georgia on the facilitation of the issuance of visas  
 
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 

1. 

• 

CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL 

Reasons for and objectives of the proposal 

The Agreement between the European Union and Georgia on the facilitation of the issuance 
of visas (‘the Facilitation Agreement’)1 entered into force on 1 March 2011. The purpose of 
the Facilitation Agreement is to facilitate, on the basis of reciprocity, the issuance of visas for 
an intended stay of no more than 90 days in any 180-day period to the citizens of the Union 
and Georgia. The desire to facilitate people-to-people contacts as an important condition for a 
steady development of economic, humanitarian, cultural, scientific and other ties between the 
European Union and Georgia is underlined in the preamble to the Facilitation Agreement. 

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

The  preamble  to  the  Facilitation  Agreement  reaffirmed  the  intention  to  establish  a  visa-free 
travel regime for the citizens of Georgia and the Union as a long-term goal, provided that all 
the  conditions  for  well-managed  and  secure  mobility  are  fulfilled.  On  that  basis,  the  EU-
Georgia  Visa  Liberalisation  Dialogue  was  launched  in  June  2012.  In  February  2013,  the 
European  Commission  presented  the  Georgian  Government  with  an  action  plan  on  visa 
liberalisation  (VLAP).  The  VLAP  was  structured  around  four  'blocks':  document  security, 
including  biometrics  (block  I),  migration  and  integrated  border  management,  including 
asylum  (block  II),  public  order  and  security  (block  III),  and  external  relations  and 
fundamental rights (block IV). The VLAP set out a series of precise benchmarks for each of 
these four 'blocks' of technically relevant issues with a view to adopting a legislative, policy 
and 
its  effective  and  sustainable 
implementation (phase 2).  

institutional  framework  (phase  1)  and  ensuring 

After  the  launch  of  the  EU-Georgia  Visa  Liberalisation  Dialogue,  the  Commission  adopted 
four  Reports2  to  the  European  Parliament  and  the  Council  on  Georgia's  progress  towards 
fulfilling  the  benchmarks  identified  under  the  four  blocks  of  the  VLAP's  first  and  second 
phases. In its fourth and final progress report, adopted on 18 December 2015, the Commission 
considered that Georgia had made the necessary progress and had undertaken all the required 
reforms  to  ensure  the  effective  and  sustainable  achievement  of  the  remaining  benchmarks. 
Based  on  this  assessment,  on  9  March  2016,  the  Commission  presented  a  proposal  for  a 
Regulation  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  to  amend  Regulation  (EC)  No 
539/2001  to  grant  a  visa  exemption  to  nationals  of  Georgia.  The  proposal  was  adopted  and 
Regulation (EU) 2017/372 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 1 March 20173 

1 
2 
3 

OJ L 52, 25.2.2011, p. 34. 
COM(2013) 808 final, COM(2014) 681 final,  COM(2015) 199 final, COM(2015) 684 final. 
Regulation (EU) 2017/372 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 1 March 2017 amending 
Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas 
when  crossing  the  external  borders  and  those  whose  nationals  are  exempt  from  that  requirement 
(Georgia), OJ L 61, 8.3.2017, p. 7–8. 

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transferred  Georgia  from  Annex  I  of  Regulation  (EC)  No  539/20014  to  Annex  II  of  that 
Regulation,  granting  an exemption  from  the requirement to  be in  possession of a visa when 
crossing the external borders of the Member States for stays of no more than 90 days in any 
180-day period to all Georgian nationals who are holders of biometric passports issued in line 
with the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). 

Pursuant to Article 8(4) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 of the European Parliament and of the 
Council  of  14  November  20185,  which  replaced  Regulation  (EC)  No  539/2001,  the 
Commission has monitored the continuous compliance by Georgia with the visa liberalisation 
requirements and presented the relevant assessment and recommendations in its annual Report 
under the Visa Suspension Mechanism.  

As set  out  in  the Commission’s 7th Report under the Visa Suspension Mechanism6, in  2024 
Georgia  adopted  legislation  the  implementation  of  which  undermines  human  rights  and 
fundamental freedoms. This concerns the ‘Law on transparency of foreign influence’ adopted 
in May 2024, and the legislative package on ‘family values and protection of minors’ adopted 
in  September  2024.  The  ‘Law on  transparency  of  foreign  influence’ was  adopted  despite  a 
critical opinion of the Venice Commission7 and the EU’s repeated calls to repeal the law. The 
law undermines  the  freedom of  association  and  expression,  the  right  to  privacy,  the  right  to 
participate  in  public  affairs  as  well  as  the  prohibition  of  discrimination. Cumbersome 
reporting  requirements  and  extensive  powers  given  to  the  Ministry  of  Justice  in  controlling 
civil society and media organisations increase the risk of selective and arbitrary application. 

The European Council underlined in its conclusions of 27 June 2024 that the law represented 
backsliding  on  at  least  three  out  of  the  nine  steps  set  out  in  the  Commission’s 
recommendation  for  candidate  status  namely  on  disinformation,  on  polarisation,  on 
fundamental  rights  and  involvement  of  civil  society  organisations).  The  European  Council 
concluded that the Georgian authorities’ course of action jeopardised Georgia’s EU path, de 
facto leading to a halt of the accession process. 

The  ‘Law  on  family  values  and  protection  of  minors’  and  eighteen  amendments  to  existing 
laws  were  adopted  without  prior  public  consultations  and  a  thorough  analysis  of  the 
compliance with  European and international  standards. This legislative package, signed into 
law  on  3  October,  undermines  the  fundamental  rights  of  the  Georgian  people  and  increases 
stigmatisation  and  discrimination.  As  a  result  of  the  legislative  activities  and  the  continued 
prevalence of homophobic hate speech, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, non-binary, intersex and 
queer (LGBTIQ) people in Georgia are facing an increasing hostility and stigmatisation. 

Georgia’s  2024-2026  action  plan  for  the  implementation  of  the  human  rights  strategy  was 
adopted following a limited consultation process and does not include provisions concerning 
LGBTIQ people and the protection of privacy. The action plan partially addresses freedom of 

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Council  Regulation  (EC)  No  539/2001  of  15  March  2001  listing  the  third  countries  whose  nationals 
must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt 
from that requirement, OJ L 81, 21.3.2001, p. 1–7. 
Regulation  (EU)  2018/1806  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  of  14  November  2018 
listing  the  third  countries  whose  nationals  must  be  in  possession  of  visas  when  crossing  the  external 
borders  and  those  whose  nationals  are  exempt  from  that  requirement  (codification),  (OJ  L  303, 
28.11.2018, p. 39.) 
COM/2024/571 final. 
Urgent opinion on the Law on Transparency of Foreign influence issued by the Venice Commission on 
21 May 2024. 

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religion  or  belief.  Significant  gaps  in  the  strategic  framework  as  regards  the  protection  of 
minority  rights  including  representation  of  minorities  remain  to  be  addressed.  The 
implementation  of  the  action  plan  has  not  yet  begun,  and  modalities  for  the  monitoring  of 
implementation has not been clearly defined.   

The  European  Council  conclusions  of  17  October  2024  reaffirmed  that  Georgia’s  accession 
process was halted and called on the Georgian authorities to adopt democratic, comprehensive 
and sustainable reforms, in line with the core principles of European integration. 

In the conclusions of the 2024 Communication on the EU Enlargement Policy8 issued on 30 
October 2024, the European Commission assessed Georgia’s progress on the implementation 
of  the  nine  steps  set  by  the  2023  Enlargement  Communication  as  insignificant,  with 
backsliding in the judiciary and fundamental rights, including freedom of expression.  

Following  the  announcement  on  28  November  of  the  Georgian  authorities’  intention  not  to 
pursue the opening of negotiations with the EU until 2028 (next parliamentary elections year), 
and to refuse any budgetary grants until then, mass protests erupted in many Georgian cities. 
Numerous reports, including those of the Public Defender of Georgia, refer to intentional use 
of  disproportionate  force  and  violent  methods  by  the  authorities  as  well  as  arbitrary  arrests 
that  could  constitute  acts  of  torture  and  other  forms  of  ill-treatment.  Reportedly,  the 
authorities  resorted  to  severe  violence,  arbitrary  arrests  and  ill-treatment  of  protesters, 
politicians  and  journalists  to  curb  the  protests.  So  far,  no  police  officers  or  members  of 
informal violent groups have been held accountable for their acts.  

The  repression  of  peaceful  protests  was  condemned  by  a  statement  of  the  High 
Representative/Vice-President and the Commissioner for Enlargement on 1 December 2024. 
The  United  Nations  High  Commissioner  for  Human  Rights  and  the  Council  of  Europe  also 
called  on  the  Georgian  authorities  to  respect  international  human  rights  standards.  In  their 
statements,  they  recalled  States’  obligations  to  promote  an  enabling  environment  for  the 
exercise of the right of peaceful assembly without discrimination and that any use of force by 
security  personnel  must  remain  an  exception  and  comply  with  the  principles  of  legality, 
necessity, proportionality, precaution and non-discrimination.  

Therefore,  the  actions  undertaken  by  the  Georgian  authorities  are  in  contradiction  with  EU 
values and undermine good relations between the EU and Georgia.  

The Commission’s 7th Report under the Visa Suspension Mechanism highlighted the steps to 
be taken urgently by Georgia to address the Commission’s concerns and noted that there are 
ongoing reflections on the possible activation of the visa suspension mechanism in relation to 
certain categories of persons. 

In order to protect the public order of the Member States and of the Union, it is appropriate 
and  proportionate  that  Member  States  require  a  visa  from  Georgian  citizens  holding  valid 
diplomatic  passports  who  travel  to  the  European  Union,  as  these  persons  represent  interests 
which are contrary to those that led the Union to conclude the Facilitation Agreement in the 
first place. 

In this context, the Commission considers that the most appropriate and proportionate step is 
to suspend certain articles of the Visa Facilitation Agreement which provide facilitations for 

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COM(2024) 690 final. 

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certain  specific  categories  of  applicants,  without  activating  at  this  stage  the  suspension 
mechanism set out in Article 8 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1806. 

The  categories  of  applicants  for  which  the  relevant  provisions  of  the  Visa  Facilitation 
Agreement should be suspended are:  

– 

– 

– 

members  of  Georgia’s  official  delegations  who,  following  an  official  invitation 
addressed  to  Georgia,  should  participate  in  official  meetings,  consultations, 
negotiations or exchange programmes, as well as in events held in the territory of one 
of the Member States by intergovernmental organisations;  

members  of  Georgia’s  national  and  regional  Governments  and  Parliaments, 
Georgia’s Constitutional Court and Supreme Court;   

citizens of Georgia holding valid diplomatic passports issued by Georgia. 

The application of the following Articles of the Visa Facilitation Agreement should therefore 
be  suspended  only  in  relation  to  those  categories  of  applicants:  Article  4(1),  point  (b)  on 
“Documentary  evidence  regarding  the  purpose  of  the  journey”,  Article  5(1),  points  (b)  and 
(c), Article 5(2), point (a), and Article 5(3) on “Issuance of multiple-entry visas”, Article 6(1) 
and  Article  6(3),  points  (c)  and  (f)  on  “Fees  for  processing  visa  applications”,  Article  7  on 
“Duration of the visa application procedure” and Article 10(1) on “Diplomatic passports”.  

Once  the  Council  Decision  enters  into  force,  the  specific  rules  provided  for  by  these 
provisions will cease to apply. The other Articles of the Agreement are not suspended. 

As  Georgia  is  listed  in  Annex  II  to  Regulation  (EU)  2018/1806  and  therefore  all  Georgian 
nationals  benefit  from  the  visa  exemption  deriving  from  EU  secondary  legislation,  to  be 
effective, the partial suspension of the Visa Facilitation Agreement should be accompanied by 
measures  to  be  taken  by  the  Member  States  pursuant  to  Article  6(1),  point  (a)  of  that 
Regulation. 

Article  6(1),  point  (a)  of  Regulation  (EU)  2018/1806  establishes  that  Member  States  may 
provide  for  exceptions  from  the  exemption  from  the  visa  requirement  as  regards  holders  of 
diplomatic  passports,  service/official  passports  or  special  passports.  Therefore,  once  the 
Council Decision enters into force, Member States should, in accordance with the principle of 
sincere  cooperation,  take  the  necessary  measures  in  their  internal  order  to  apply  a  visa 
requirement for holders of diplomatic, service/official passports and special passports issued 
by  Georgia  and  notify  those  measures  to  the  other  Member  States  and  the  Commission 
pursuant  to  Article  12(1)  of  Regulation  (EU)  2018/1806.  The  Commission  will  issue 
Guidelines inviting the Member States to take those measures. 

Following  the  measures  taken  by  Member  States  pursuant  to  Article  6(1),  point  (a)  of 
Regulation  (EU)  2018/1806,  the  general  rules  of  Regulation  (EC)  No  810/2009  of  the 
European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 establishing a Community Code on 
Visas (Visa Code)9 will apply to the persons concerned. 

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Regulation  (EC)  No  810/2009  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  of  13  July  2009 
establishing a Community Code on Visas (Visa Code), (OJ L 243, 15.9.2009, p. 1). 

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This  Decision  would  not  have  a  negative  impact  on  people-to-people  contacts,  as  Georgian 
nationals  who  are  holders  of  ordinary  passports  will  continue  to  benefit  from  the  visa 
exemption when travelling to the EU for short stays. 

• 

Consistency with existing policy provisions in the policy area 

The proposal is consistent and complementary with Regulation (EU) 2018/1806, which lists 
Georgia  among  the  countries  whose  nationals  are  exempt  from  the  visa  requirement  but 
allows  Member  States  to  provide  for  exceptions  from  that  exemption  as  regards  holders  of 
diplomatic passports, service/official passports or special passports. 

• 

Consistency with other Union policies 

This  initiative  is  consistent  with  the  EU’s  external  relations  (including  considerations  of 
human  rights  and  fundamental  freedoms)  and  with  the  EU’s  enlargement  policy  as  regards 
visa-free third countries with accession prospects. 

This initiative is consistent with the EU migration, border management and security policies, 
as it aims to address security and irregular migration risks for the Schengen area. 

2. 

• 

LEGAL BASIS, SUBSIDIARITY AND PROPORTIONALITY 

Legal basis 

The procedural legal basis for this proposal is Article 218(9) of the Treaty on the Functioning 
of the European Union (TFEU). The substantive legal basis is Article 77(2)(a) of the Treaty 
on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). 

The  substantive  legal  basis  for  a  decision  under  Article  218(9)  TFEU  depends  primarily  on 
the objective and content of the envisaged act in respect of which a position is taken on the 
Union's  behalf.  The  main  objective  and  content  of  the  envisaged  act  relate  to  the  partial 
suspension  of  application  of  some  of  the  provisions  of  the  Facilitation  Agreement  and, 
therefore, fall within the scope of common policy on visas. 

Therefore, the substantive legal basis of the proposed decision is Article 77(2)(a) TFEU. 

Subsidiarity (for non-exclusive competence)  

• 

n.a. 

• 

Proportionality 

The present proposal does not go beyond what is necessary to achieve the objective pursued, 
namely  to  suspend  the  obligation  for  the  EU  and  its  Member  States  to  grant  certain 
facilitations  for  officials  of  Georgia  and  holders  of  diplomatic  passports  issued  by  Georgia, 
and allow the Member States to make use of the possibility to reinstate a visa requirement for 
holders of diplomatic passports issued by Georgia. 

• 

Choice of the instrument 

The objectives of this proposal can only be achieved by an act that suspends the application of 
the  Visa  Facilitation  Agreement.  Therefore,  a  Council  decision  suspending  the  Visa 
Facilitation Agreement is needed. 

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RESULTS 
CONSULTATIONS AND IMPACT ASSESSMENTS 

EX-POST 

EVALUATIONS, 

OF 

STAKEHOLDER 

Ex-post evaluations/fitness checks of existing legislation 

3. 

• 

n.a. 

• 

Stakeholder consultations 

Georgia’s  democratic  backsliding,  including  the  adoption  of  the  ‘Law  on  transparency  of 
foreign influence’ in May 2024 and the adoption of the legislative package on family values 
and  protection  of  minors  in  September  2024,  as  well  as  the  conduct  of  the  parliamentary 
elections in October 2024 and the violent suppression of the protests in December 2024, has 
been  discussed  several  times  in  the  Political  and  Security  Committee  and  in  the  Foreign 
Affairs Council. The Foreign Affairs Council on 16 December 2024 exchanged views on the 
EU’s  response  to  the  recent  developments  in  Georgia,  including  the  announcement  by  the 
government of its intention not to seek the opening of accession negotiations until 2028, the 
subsequent  mass  protests,  and  the  increasing  acts  of  violence  against  protestors,  the  media, 
and  the  political  opposition.  The  High  Representative  stressed  that  the  EU  has  downgraded 
political  contacts  and  cut  assistance  directly  benefiting  the  Georgian  authorities,  and 
announced that there was an agreement to invite the Commission to put forward a proposal to 
reintroduce visa requirements for Georgian diplomatic passport holders. 

Collection and use of expertise 

Impact assessment 

Regulatory fitness and simplification 

• 

n.a. 

• 

n.a. 

• 

n.a. 

• 

Fundamental rights 

This  proposal  has  no  negative  consequences  for  the  protection  of  fundamental  rights  in  the 
European Union. 

4. 

BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS 

This proposal has no budgetary implications. 

5. 

• 

OTHER ELEMENTS 

Implementation plans and monitoring, evaluation and reporting arrangements 

In  accordance  with  the  Treaties,  it  is  for  the  Commission  to  ensure  that  the  notification 
provided for in Article 14(5) of the Facilitation Agreement be made on behalf of the Union, in 
order to express its consent to partially suspend the Facilitation Agreement. 

Explanatory documents (for directives) 

• 

n.a. 

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• 

Detailed explanation of the specific provisions of the proposal 

Article 1 of the proposal provides that the application of certain provisions of the Agreement 
providing  for  facilitations  for  certain  categories  of  citizens  of  Georgia  applying  for  a  short-
stay visa, namely members of Georgian official delegations, members of national and regional 
Governments and Parliaments of Georgia, the Constitutional and Supreme Court of Georgia, 
in  the  exercise  of  their  duties,  and  citizens  of  Georgia  holding  valid  diplomatic  passports, 
should  be  suspended.  These  provisions  concern:  Article  4(1),  point  (b)  on  “Documentary 
evidence regarding the purpose of the journey”, Article 5(1), points (b) and (c), Article 5(2), 
point (a), and Article 5(3) on “Issuance of multiple-entry visas”, Article 6(1) and Article 6(3), 
points (c) and (f) on “Fees for processing visa applications”, Article 7 on “Duration of the visa 
application procedure”, and Article 10(1) on “Diplomatic passports”. 

Once adopted, the Commission will adopt guidelines for the implementation of this Decision 
and for the complementary measures that Member States should take pursuant to Article 6(1), 
point (a) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1806. 

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2024/0329 (NLE) 

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL DECISION 

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 proposal from the European Commission, 

Whereas: 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

(5) 

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. 

The purpose of the Facilitation Agreement is to facilitate, on the basis of reciprocity, 
the  issuance  of  visas  for  an  intended  stay  of  no  more  than 90  days  in  any 180-day 
period  to  the  citizens  of  the  Union  and  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. 

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,  protection  of 
national  security  or  protection  of  public  health.  The  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. 

In  2024,  Georgia  adopted  the  ‘Law  on  transparency  of  foreign  influence’  and  the 
legislative  package  on  ‘family  values  and  protection  of  minors’.  This  legislation 
undermines  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 increases stigmatisation and discrimination.  

The European Council underlined in its conclusions of 27 June 2024 that the ‘Law on 
transparency  of  foreign  influence’  represents  backsliding  on  the  steps  set  out  in  the 
Commission’s  recommendation  for  candidate  status  and  called  on  Georgia’s 
authorities to clarify their intentions by reversing a course of action which jeopardises 
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 reaffirmed that 
such  a  course  of  action  jeopardises  Georgia’s  European  path  and  de  facto  halts  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 the intention not to seek 
the  opening  of  accession  negotiations  with  the  European  Union  until  2028.  This 
announcement  provoked  mass  protests  in  numerous  Georgian  cities,  to  which  the 
Georgian  authorities  responded  with  the  use  of  disproportionate  force  and  violent 

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(7) 

(8) 

(9) 

methods  as  well  as  arbitrary  arrests  and  ill-treatment  of  protesters,  politicians  and 
journalists. 

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 thereby  are in  contradiction  with  Union values and hamper the steady 
development of economic, humanitarian, cultural, scientific and other ties between the 
Union and Georgia. 

Against  this  background,  the  Commission’s  7th  Report  under  the  Visa  Suspension 
Mechanism10  highlighted  the  steps  to  be  taken  urgently  by  Georgia  to  address  the 
Commission’s concerns and noted that there are ongoing reflections on the activation 
of the visa suspension mechanism in relation to certain categories of persons. 

In  order  to  protect  the  public  order  of  the  Member  States  and  of  the  Union,  it  is 
appropriate  and  proportionate  that  Member  States  require  a  visa  from  Georgian 
citizens holding valid diplomatic passports who travel to the European Union, as these 
persons represent interests which are contrary to those that led the Union to conclude 
the Facilitation Agreement in the first place. The application of certain provisions of 
the  Facilitation  Agreement  providing  for  exemptions  for  citizens  of  Georgia  holding 
valid  diplomatic  passports  and  for  facilitations  for  certain  categories  of  citizens  of 
Georgia  applying  for  a  short-stay  visa,  namely  members  of  Georgian  official 
delegations,  members  of  national  and  regional  Governments  and  Parliaments  of 
Georgia,  the  Constitutional  and  Supreme  Court  of  Georgia,  in  the  exercise  of  their 
duties, should therefore be suspended. 

(10)  This Decision constitutes a development of the provisions of the Schengen  acquis in 
which Ireland does not take part, in accordance with Council Decision 2002/192/EC11; 
Ireland is therefore not taking part in the adoption of this Decision and is not bound by 
it or subject to its application. 

(11) 

In  accordance  with  Articles 1  and 2  of  Protocol  No 22  on  the  position  of  Denmark, 
annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the 
European Union, Denmark is not taking part in the adoption of this Decision and is not 
bound by it or subject to its application. 

(12) 

In view of the gravity of the situation in Georgia, this Decision should enter into force 
as soon as possible, 

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:  

Article 1 

The  application  of  the  following  provisions  of  the  Agreement  between  the  European  Union 
and Georgia on the facilitation of the issuance of visas is suspended:  

(a) 

Article  4(1),  point  (b),  as  regards  members  of  Georgia’s  official  delegations  who, 
following  an  official  invitation  addressed  to  Georgia,  are  to  participate  in  official 

10 
11 

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COM/2024/571 final. 
Council Decision 2002/192/EC of 28 February 2002 concerning Ireland's request to take part in some of 
p. 20, 
the 
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2002/192/oj). 

provisions 

(OL L 64, 

Schengen 

7.3.2002, 

acquis 

the 

of 

9 

  EN 

 
meetings, consultations, negotiations or exchange programmes, as well as in events 
held in the territory of the Member States by intergovernmental organisations; 

Article  5(1),  point  (b),  as  regards  members  of  Georgia’s  national  and  regional 
governments, Georgia’s Constitutional Court and Georgia’s Supreme Court; 

Article  5(1),  point  (c),  as  regards  permanent  members  of  Georgia’s  official 
delegations  who,  following  an  official  invitation  addressed  to  Georgia,  are  to 
participate 
in  meetings,  consultations,  negotiations  or  exchange 
programmes,  as  well  as  in  events  held  in  the  territory  of  the  Member  States  by 
intergovernmental organisations;  

regularly 

Article  5(2),  point  (a),  as  regards  members  of  Georgia’s  official  delegations  who, 
following  an  official 
in  meetings, 
consultations, negotiations or exchange programmes, as well as in events held in the 
territory of the Member States by intergovernmental organisations; 

to  participate  regularly 

invitation,  are 

Article 5(3), as regards the categories referred to in Article 5(2), point (a); 

Article  6(3),  points  (c)  and  (f),  as  regards  members  of  Georgia’s  national  and 
regional  governments  and  of  Georgia’s  Constitutional  and  Supreme  courts,  and 
members  of  Georgia’s  official  delegations  who,  following  an  official  invitation 
addressed  to  Georgia,  are  to  participate  in  meetings,  consultations,  negotiations  or 
exchange programmes, as well as in events held in the territory of the Member States 
by intergovernmental organisations; 

Article  10(1),  as  regards  citizens  of  Georgia  who  are  holders  of  valid  diplomatic 
passports issued by Georgia. 

Article  6(1),  as  regards  fees  for  processing  visa  applications  for  the  categories  of 
citizens and persons referred to Article 6(3) points (c) and (f) and Article 10(1).  

Article 7, as regards the categories of citizens and persons referred to in Article 6(3) 
points (c) and (f) and Article 10(1). 

(b) 

(c) 

(d) 

(e) 

(f) 

(g) 

(h) 

(i) 

Article 2  

This Decision shall enter into force on the second day following that of its publication in the 
Official Journal of the European Union. 

Done at Brussels, 

For the Council 
The President 

EN 

10 

  EN