Georgian government welcomes Germany‘s propsal to put Georgia on safe country list

The German government’s proposal to put Georgia on the safe country list  means the recognition of reforms carried out in the country, Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani said in a statement released yesterday.

The bill initiated by the German Interior Ministry which has been already approved by the federal government now needs to be voted by German lawmakers to come into play.

"Georgia reacts immediately to each violation of the visa free rules  by Georgian citizens. We have a positive dynamic regarding decreasing the number of asylum seekers and all the initiatives put forward by the Georgian government have been supported by our German partners during the last few months,” Zalkaliani said.

German and Georgian officials believe that putting Georgia on the list will decrease the number of Georgian asylum seekers in Germany, as well as the illegal stay of Georgians in the country, which may create threats to the Georgia-EU visa waiver.

Georgia is already regarded as a safe country by Austria, France, Belgium, Bulgaria, Island, Israel and Luxemburg.