European Commission report on Georgia

European Commission assessment

The European Commission's 2026 enlargement report states that the Georgian government has not implemented corrective actions regarding the state of democracy and fundamental rights in the country. According to Rikard Jozwiak, the report also notes that Georgia remains an EU candidate country "in name only." Interpressnews+3

Publika and Interpressnews report that Georgia has fulfilled almost none of the recommendations issued in the 7th and 8th reports of the visa suspension mechanism (VSM). According to the report, the country has backslid in the criteria of governance and rule of law, which are the basis for granting visa-free travel. Publika+2

Suspension of visa-free travel

The European Commission activated the visa suspension mechanism from March 6, 2026, for a 12-month period, which concerns holders of diplomatic, service, and official passports. The report notes that the visa dialogue held in June 2026 did not bring progress regarding the issues that became the basis for the suspension. Publika+2

In addition, the European Commission points out that Georgia's visa policy continues to differ from EU rules and calls on the country to address issues of illegal migration and unfounded asylum requests. Publika