Visa Liberalization Report: Illegal Migration from Georgia Remains as a Problem
By Gvantsa Gabekhadze
Monday, December 24
The European Commission has released its report on the fulfillment of the visa liberalization obligations by Georgia, other Eastern Partnership countries and the Balkan states.
The report says that Georgia is fulfilling its obligations taken on with the EU: however, it also says that irregular migration still remains a major problem from Georgia.
The European Commission says that as regards irregular migration challenges, between 2016 and 2017, the number of refusals of entry increased by around 200% (from 810 to 2,655), while there was a slight increase in illegal stay between 2016 (5,240) and 2017 (5,860).
“According to the European Border and Coast Guard Agency data, the trends between the first half of 2017 and the first half of 2018 indicate a considerable increase in the number of refusals of entry and an increase in the illegal stay. In the first half of 2018, the number of asylum applications has doubled compared to the same period in 2017, with 9,680 asylum applications submitted in the first half of 2018 compared to 4,770 in the same period of 2017.
“Germany and France are the main countries affected by this increase. The asylum recognition rate was 14,09% in 2016 and 5,48% in 2017, showing a considerable decrease. Georgia’s cooperation on readmission and return is functioning well and should be continued. The return rate (around 63% in 2017) has increased compared to 2016 (around 56%) with 4,560 Georgian nationals effectively were returned in 2017,” the report reads.
The report says that overall, the visa liberalization benchmarks continue to be fulfilled. While concrete measures have been put in place to address irregular migration challenges, further immediate action is needed to address these challenges, including increasing numbers of unfounded asylum applications.
The report reads that the following areas need to be addressed: Strengthen the operational cooperation with concerned countries to achieve a swift decrease in the number of unfounded asylum applications by Georgian nationals in the Schengen+ area; Strengthen border controls, in full respect of fundamental rights; Continue to organise information campaigns on the rights and obligations of visa-free travel; Continue to strengthen cross-border law enforcement cooperation to fight against Georgian organised crime groups; Finalize the reform on intelligence-led policing and the creation of a unified crime analysis system as a matter of priority; Continue strengthening the anti-corruption framework, including through the setting up of an independent Asset Recovery Office.
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.
