Discussions are underway among member states about what can be done, and one of the ideas is to suspend the visa-free regime, EU Ambassador to Georgia Pawel Herczynski told reporters.

Pawel Herczynski was responding to a question about a statement by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk that he was “ready to limit or suspend visa-free travel, including with Georgia, in order to reduce the risks of illegal migration.”

“Georgia has enjoyed a privileged relationship with the EU for several years now. We have shared with Georgians the opportunity of visa-free travel to Europe and a free trade zone. Three years ago, Georgia applied for candidate country status, and we officially granted it the status of a candidate country for the EU. However, unfortunately, for the last period, about a year, relations between the EU and Georgia have not been going well,” Pawel Herczynski said.

According to him, “The EU has been discussing for several months now what member states should do in response to the actions, decisions and laws of the Georgian government that are distancing Georgia from the EU.”

“Of course, there is a question whether this privileged relationship that Georgia enjoys is deserved. There are ongoing discussions among member states about what can be done and one of the ideas is to suspend the visa-free regime. This is up to the member states and two-thirds of them should decide. These discussions have been going on for several months now. At this stage, I would say that the majority of member states are against it. For a very simple reason, we do not want speople to pay the price for the decisions of the authorities. That is why we decided to suspend the visa-free regime for holders of diplomatic and service passports at this stage, and not for holders of ordinary passports. However, the discussion is ongoing, but I want to assure you that at this stage, Georgian citizens can enjoy visa-free travel to the EU,” the EU Ambassador to Georgia noted.