Georgian FM minister, German President say EU not suspending visa-free regime with Georgia
By Khatia Bzhalava
Friday, October 1
Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Davit Zalkaliani announced yesterday that the information that the EU is considering the suspension of visa-free regime for Georgia is ‘a big lie’, stressing that the country fulfils all the obligations and no suspension mechanism will be activated regarding Georgia.
Earlier yesterday EU observer, an online newspaper, reported that “unlawful residency and unfounded asylum claims from some western Balkan states, plus Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine, is triggering discussions on suspending visa-free travel to the EU.”
EUobserver notes that they became aware of the contents of the EU internal report, which is dated September 27. According to the report, Germany expresses dissatisfaction as the number of asylum seekers from Georgia has increased by 51 per cent in the last three months compared to the same period in 2019.
As the agency reports, France is dissatisfied with Georgia and Albania, while the Czech Republic says that there is a high rate of unreasonable demand for asylum from citizens of Georgia.
"In case of little or no improvement by third countries, COM [European Commission] should, in our view, emphasise that triggering the Visa Suspension Mechanism is a real option," the German delegation said in the document, reports EUobserver.
Georgian Foreign Minister Zalkaliani denied the information and said that the number of asylum seekers from Georgia to the EU did not increase, but was reduced by 75%. He underscored that the latest report on the implementation of visa-liberalization is extremely positive regarding Georgia.
“Our integration into the European Union, including free trade and visa liberalization, is an irreversible process. We will not turn away from any of our obligations,” said Zalkaliani.
Georgian FM stressed that German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has also denied the information, calling it fake news. As the German President stated, reading this news was unexpected to him as well since it does not correspond to the truth.
The EU approved visa-free travel for citizens of Georgia and Ukraine in 2017. Georgian citizens can travel to the EU/Schengen Zone visa-free for 90 days within 180 days using biometric passports.
