Georgian Parliament official: no justification for tightening Georgia’s visa liberalisation policy with EU

David Matikashvili, an MP from the ruling Georgian Dream party and Chair of the Georgian Parliament’s Committee on Procedural Issues and Rules, on Saturday rejected calls to tighten the EU’s visa liberalisation policy with Georgia, asserting that no objective reasons support such a move.

In his remarks, Matikashvili addressed growing concerns over potential changes to Georgia’s visa-free travel agreement with the European Union, dismissing any grounds for restricting the policy.

“There is not a single objective factor that would justify tightening the visa liberalisation policy with regard to Georgia”, he said.

He accused European bureaucrats and the Georgian opposition of using the policy as a tool to pressure the Georgian people, a tactic he claimed was doomed to fail.

“All of this once again highlights the attempt by Eurocrats to exert pressure on the Georgian people and to act against the will and desires of the Georgian people, which, naturally, will not succeed. No form of blackmail or pressure works on Georgians. It would be good if they realise this in a timely manner, as it would contribute to improving relations in the future”, Matikashvili concluded.

Maia Bitadze, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament’s Environment Protection and Natural Resources Committee, on Friday said the domestic opposition was not fighting against the ruling Georgian Dream party but against the country itself.

In her remarks, Bitadze noted that the issue of visa liberalisation with the European Union should not be used as a punitive measure.