Belgium grants ‘Safe Country of Origin’ status to Georgia
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Belgium has reviewed its asylum system and for the first time awarded Georgia the status of ‘Safe Country of Origin’, meaning Georgia is now regarded as a safe country and it meets top international standards of law and judicial requirements.
The safe country of origin concept was introduced by Belgium in 2012 and determines the countries of origin that are considered to be safe.
The Safe Country of Origin status is one of Belgium’s key tools in the process of grating asylums to foreign nationals.
Each year Belgium reviews its list of safe countries and this year Georgia was the only nation added to the list.
Belgium’s 2016 list of countries considered safe are Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia, India and Georgia.
Several criteria determine a Safe Country of Origin status:
- The legal situation in the country of origin;
- The application of the law;
- The general political circumstances; and
- The extent to which protection is provided against persecution and abuse.
The list was updated on August 29, 2016 and came into force that same day.
Belgium’s official European Migration Network website states asylum seekers who originate from a ‘safe country of origin’ does not automatically mean his/her application will not be taken into consideration. However the asylum applicant will have to put forward substantial arguments to demonstrate that his/her country of origin cannot be considered as safe due to specific personal circumstances.
Belgium will be Georgia’s partner in the process of Georgia’s European and Euro-Atlantic integration.
The meetings will kick off with consultations between the Commissioner for European Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule and President of European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso before the parties make a joint statement to the media.
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Georgian citizens in Brussels, Belgium where several explosions ripped through the city’s main airport and at a metro station today have been asked to contact Georgia’s consulate if they need help.
As the country celebrates its 25th Independence Day with festive events in capital Tbilisi and in its regions, Georgia is enjoying messages of congratulations sent from world leaders and different cities allover the world.
Georgia added to list of safe countries of origin
Israel has added Georgia to its list of safe countries of origin. This move will have implications for individuals from Georgia seeking asylum or refugee status in Israel.
Iceland has added Georgia to the list of safe countries.
Georgia is among the safest countries in the world in the latest travel advisory for United States (US) travellers published by the US State Department.
Luxembourg has added Georgia to the list of safe countries. The local immigration service has studied the current situation in Georgia and defined that the county has all the necessary preconditions for being defined as safe.
The State Minister for Asylum, Migration and Administrative Simplification of Belgium Theo Francken has arrived in Georgia to discuss migration and several related issues with state officials of Georgia.
The Kingdom of Denmark has reviewed its asylum system and for the first time awarded Georgia the status of Safe Country of Origin, meaning Georgia is now regarded as a safe country and meets top international standards of law and judicial requirements.
The Greek government has put Georgia on its safe country list, joining the other 15 EU/Schengen zone countries to do the same.
Vakhtang Makharoblishvili, Georgia's Ambassador to the European Union, on Tuesday said Belgium’s decision to remove Georgia from its list of safe countries was “subject to change” and posed “no threats” to visa-free travel for Georgian nationals.