Tbilisi Claims Ending Visa-Free Travel to EU will Boost Economy

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has further responded to European Union restrictions on visa-free travel from his country, suggesting that the measure will actually propel its economy forward. His government also appears to enjoy the full backing of the Georgian Orthodox Church in its opposition to the European Commission’s recent hostile recommendations.

Whereas previously the ruling Georgian Dream party celebrated its role in securing visa-free travel as a major achievement, increasingly it sees it as an instrument of blackmail from Brussels. The growing scepticism also coincides with the belligerent Polish PM Donald Tusk appearing to politicise the deportation of alleged and convicted Georgian criminals from Poland.

Kobakhidze compared the British and EU visa situation for Georgia travellers:

In the UK, our citizens stand in line for a visa—it’s a technical issue. Of course, it’s inconvenient, but you get the visa and go to the UK … Without visa liberalisation, many more of our citizens would have stayed in the country, which would have increased the labour force and directly contributed to further improvement in the pace of economic growth.

Tbilisi is freezing its EU membership bid following pressure from Brussels to rescind pro-family legislation. To date, Georgian diplomats have had their visa-free status revoked.

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