Time in Tbilisi: March 29, 2024 13:21
German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer told Deutsche Welle that Germany intends to add Georgia and Armenia to the list of safe countries, which means that no one from those countries will receive asylum in Germany.
Stefan Meier, the representative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Germany, says that a big number of Armenians and Georgians request asylum in Germany, but only "very few” gain a positive response.
I believe it is reasonable to recognize Georgia as a safe country, especially when the Georgian government unconditionally supports the decision,” Meyer said.
According to the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees of Germany, 3,462 citizens of Georgia and 3,857 citizens of Armenia applied for asylum in Germany last year.
The government of Georgia stated about a month ago that they requested Germany to put Georgia on the safe country list in order to prevent the illegal flow of Georgians to Germany.
Germany is discussing the issue of listing Georgia in the category of safe countries, Georgia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced.
The government of Georgia has announced changes in the law that will introduce tougher sanctions against Georgian citizens violating the Georgia-EU visa-free travel agreement.The announcement came after today’s special meeting at the government of Georgia headquarters.
A visa liberalisation decision for Georgia will be taken in favour of the country in combination with a suspension mechanism, says German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Merkel and Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili met in Berlin this afternoon.
Today Georgia’s Prime Minister has met President of the German Bundestag (the national Parliament of Germany) Norbert Lammert in Germany.
Germany is offering about €253 million to Georgia for sustainable development. Georgia’s Finance Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze and German Ambassador to Georgia Heike Peitsch signed the financial agreement today.
Georgian Interior Minister has discussed steps taken by Georgia towards reducing asylum seekers from the country with his German colleague Horst Seehofer pointing out that there is a positive dynamic in terms of a decrease in their number.
The number of Georgian citizens seeking asylum in Germany has decreased dramatically in May, compared to the previous data, the statistics from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees of Germany has revealed.
The number of Georgian citizens seeking asylum in EU member states has significantly decreased, the Chair of the Committee on European Integration of the Georgian Parliament Tamar Khulordava said.
The federal government of Germany has approved a bill initiated by the German Interior Ministry, which supports putting Georgia on the safe country list.
Representative of the International Organization for Migration Marc Hulst says that the number of Georgian asylum seekers in the EU member states is decreasing, which benefits the Georgian-EU visa waiver agreed upon last year.
After a face to face meeting with Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze and a meeting with part of te Georgian cabinet, she held a joint press conference with the Georgian PM.
The topics discussed at the meetings included the situation in Georgia’s regions occupied by Russia, the country’s European aspirations and integration and the deepening of the economic and cultural ties.
About 1.4 million Georgians have left the country between 2002 and 2017, a study conducted by the NGO Society and Banks with the support of the Ilia University Financial Education Centre reads.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani said that Georgian citizens ask for asylum in the EU in vain, given that most European countries have put Georgia on the list of safe countries.
The number of Georgian asylum seekers has been decreased in Germany by 26.5 per cent, officials figures read.
4,566 Georgians were deported from foreign countries last year, with more than half of the people have been deported from Israel and Turkey, a report released by the state migration commission reads.
2,163 Georgian citizens have requested asylum in Germany between January and August 2021, making for a total five percent of applications, Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) says.