German Chancellor: Georgia, Moldova safe countries of origin
In an interview with the German news website Der Spiegel, Scholz noted the European Union was strengthening the protection of Europe’s external borders so that “fewer people are able to make their way to Europe”. Photo: German Government
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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Friday said Georgia and Moldova were classified as safe countries of origin, adding it was “not plausible” to assume “systemic oppression” in the two states.
In an interview with the German news website Der Spiegel, Scholz noted the European Union was strengthening the protection of Europe’s external borders so that “fewer people are able to make their way to Europe”.
We are classifying Georgia and Moldova as safe countries of origin. Both want to become members of the European Union, as such it isn’t plausible to assume systemic oppression in those countries”, the German official said.
Scholz also added his Government had introduced “stricter” controls on the country’s borders with neighbouring countries, and further pointed out that “we want to reduce the incentives for remaining here irregularly”.
Georgian Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili and Luise Hölscher, the German Federal Minister of Finance, on Tuesday discussed bilateral partnership and future cooperation as part of intergovernmental negotiations on development between the two states, hosted in Berlin.
In total 97,663 Georgian citizens have registered for a seasonal employment programme in Germany, while there are only 5,000 vacancies available at this stage, reports the State Employment Promotion Agency.
Starting February 15 Germany will allow Georgian citizens to find legal employment in the country's agriculture sector, said German Ambassador to Georgia Hubert Knirsch after a meeting with Georgian Minister of Internally Displaced Persons, Labour, Health and Social Affairs Ekaterine Tikaradze.
The German Bundestag has declared Georgia a safe country on January 18, meaning that Georgians will not be eligible to seek asylum in Germany.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Thursday discussed the positive decision of the European Commission to recommend the European Council to grant Georgia the European Union membership candidate status.
Peter Fischer, the German Ambassador to Georgia, on Friday said his Government had classified Georgia as a country of safe origin, leading to Georgian citizens seeking asylum in Germany having to prove they are being persecuted or having their individual and human rights violated in their home country.
The Georgian and German defence ministries discussed the current cooperation between the two countries and agreed on the future directions to “expand intensive ties” for 2024 in the field of defence at the meeting held in the Georgian Defence Ministry, the Ministry said on Saturday.
The German Bundesrat on Friday recognised Georgia and Moldova as safe countries of origin, leading to a rapid procession of asylum seeker applications from the countries and effective reduction of illegal migration.