European Commission report: Georgia fulfills its visa-free obligations, asylum seekers remain a problem
Visa-free travel for Georgians entered into force in March 2017. Photo: N.Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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The European Commission has released its report on the fulfilment of visa-free obligations by Georgia, other Eastern Partnership countries and the Balkan states.
The report reads that Georgia is fulfilling its obligations taken on with the EU: however, it also says that irregular migration still remains an issue of concern.
Irregular migration from Ukraine, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina to the EU remains high, while the increasing number of unfounded asylum applications in the EU from Moldovan and Georgian citizens is a source of concern,” the statement reads.
The EU Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos said that visa-free travel with the Western Balkan and Eastern European partners is a great achievement which brings benefits for both sides.
It also comes with responsibilities and obligations. I welcome all concerned countries to continue to fulfil their obligations, but call for swift and enhanced efforts to continue curbing irregular migration, and fighting corruption and organised crime."
The EU Ambassador to Georgia Carl Hartzell says that according to the report Georgia is fulfilling its obligations.
The number of asylum seekers from Georgia has also decreased,” Hartzell says.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani says that the report is positive about Georgia and that the country is taking all measures to decrease the number of asylum seekers to the EU-member states from Georgia.
Visa free travel for Georgia entered into force in March 2017.
Prime Minister of Georgia, Mamuka Bakhtadze, has emphasised the importance of the responsible implementation of the visa liberalisation tool by Georgians.
This time last year, a small Georgian delegation led by Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili left for a historic trip on which Georgians travelled visa-free for the first time to the European Union (EU).
Within a year of the Georgia-EU visa free agreement, 192,453 Georgian citizens have visited the Schengen Zone 258,663 times, the Georgian Interior Ministry reports. Deputy Interior Minister Nino Javakhadze stated that in total 1,001 Georgians were refused entry into the EU passport-free zone.
Almost a year ago, visa-free travel regulations for Georgian citizens traveling to the European Union (EU) went into force. Welcoming the special anniversary at a government session this morning, Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili said this is one of the country’s greatest achievements.
The German Bundestag has declared Georgia a safe country on January 18, meaning that Georgians will not be eligible to seek asylum in Germany.
The German government has introduced a bill to the Bundestag which would allow highly-qualified Georgians to search for jobs in the country, the Head of the Economy and Law Department of the German Embassy to Georgia Jan Bittner told IPN.
The European Commission has put forward a proposal for the long-term policy objectives of the Eastern Partnership beyond 2020 to increase trade, strengthen connectivity and deepen the economic integration with Eastern Partnership countries of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.