Governments of Georgia and Germany Sign Agreement on Migration and Mobility
By Liza Mchedlidze
Wednesday, December 20, 2023
The Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia, Vakhtang Gomelauri, held a meeting with Nancy Feser, the Federal Minister of Internal Affairs of Germany, who is on an official working visit to Georgia.
During the meeting, the Government of Georgia and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany signed an agreement on migration and mobility. The purpose of this agreement is to enhance cooperation between the two nations in the realms of labor migration and education. As part of this collaboration, educational and internship programs will be implemented more intensively, benefiting Georgian students and researchers.
The agreement envisions strengthening the efforts against illegal migration, which implies enhancing cooperation to ensure the readmission and reintegration of Georgian citizens who violate the visa-free travel regime.
During the meeting, the parties also discussed the prospects for future cooperation, focusing on efforts against illegal migration and organized crime
Vakhtang Gomelauri highlighted the significance of Germany including Georgia in the list of safe countries of origin. He emphasized that this decision by the German government reaffirms Georgia's status as a democratic country, where state bodies ensure the proper protection of human rights.
During the meeting, the German side acknowledged that Georgia is successfully implementing the readmission agreement signed with the European Union. Additionally, they positively evaluated the measures taken by Georgia in response to the challenges of visa-free travel with the European Union.
As Nancy Feser said at the briefing held together with the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia Vakhtang Gomelauri, Georgia and Germany have a very close, partnership cooperation.
"First of all, I would like to emphasize the granting of candidate status to Georgia. This was a very important decision of the European Council, and Germany actively supported it. Congratulations! Besides, I am very happy that we have signed an agreement on migration, which strengthens and intensifies cooperation in this field. We emphasize what is important: the very close, partnership cooperation of our countries, targeted employment and education of specialists, and the so-called return of asylum seekers and persons without real residence," Faeser said.
Faeser acknowledged the positive impact of the migration agreement, expressed appreciation for cooperation, and highlighted the importance of the partnership between the two countries in the face of broader geopolitical challenges.
Gomelauri explained that the draft agreement within the framework of cooperation in the field of labor migration envisions promoting the orderly migration of the labor force and skilled workers in the following directions: strengthening circular migration and seasonal labor migration in the German labor market, and expanding opportunities for Georgians to engage in labor activities.
"This means that work visas, which are relatively problematic today, will be easier to obtain from now on. Our citizens will be able to legally work and stay in the country, and this visa will also be issued there. For this purpose, the draft agreement envisages the creation of a bilateral expert group with the participation of relevant ministries and institutions," Gomelauri said.
