The foreign ministers of Sweden, Poland and Denmark have visited Tbilisi in mid-April and discussed the formation of the EU-Georgia visa-free regime. Iosif Tsintsadze, a former rector of the Tbilisi Diplomatic Academy, noted that Romania had played the decisive role in persuading EU to form the visa-free regime with Moldova, a country facing the same problems with illegal migration and trafficking as Georgia. Romania is both a member of EU and NATO.
The expert reminded that the Georgian government was not consistent in the issue. Justice Minister Tea Tsulukiani, for example, claims to be the one to convince the government to cancel the liberalized migration regime with Asian and African states in the favour of the Schengen Area rules. Some say that it caused reduction of the number of tourists and small investors.
The main problem, according to Tsintsadze, is that Brussels has not clarified its demands. It is also unclear whether the justice minister or the prime minister and a group of dignitaries is the conductor in the issue.
Regarding readiness of Europe to opens its doors to Georgian citizens, so that many would visit EU to make money, Tsintsadze noted that the attitude towards migration was changing in the Old World. He mentioned the Queen of Denmark, who had warned that migrants would have to assimilate. This casts a shadow on the multiculturalism policy in EU.
Bidzina Ivanishvili, the analyst goes on, said that the limitations set by Tsulukiani did more harm than good. This creates a paradox, speculates Tsintsadze, where the doors cannot be fully opened and where someone has to be responsible for the income lost because of the limitations.
The foreign ministers of Sweden, Poland and Denmark have visited Tbilisi in mid-April and discussed the formation of the EU-Georgia visa-free regime. Iosif Tsintsadze, a former rector of the Tbilisi Diplomatic Academy, noted that Romania had played the decisive role in persuading EU to form the visa-free regime with Moldova, a country facing the same problems with illegal migration and trafficking as Georgia. Romania is both a member of EU and NATO.The expert reminded that the Georgian government was not consistent in the issue. Justice Minister Tea Tsulukiani, for example, claims to be the one to convince the government to cancel the liberalized migration regime with Asian and African states in the favour of the Schengen Area rules. Some say that it caused reduction of the number of tourists and small investors.The main problem, according to Tsintsadze, is that Brussels has not clarified its demands. It is also unclear whether the justice minister or the prime minister and a group of dignitaries is the conductor in the issue.Regarding readiness of Europe to opens its doors to Georgian citizens, so that many would visit EU to make money, Tsintsadze noted that the attitude towards migration was changing in the Old World. He mentioned the Queen of Denmark, who had warned that migrants would have to assimilate. This casts a shadow on the multiculturalism policy in EU.Bidzina Ivanishvili, the analyst goes on, said that the limitations set by Tsulukiani did more harm than good. This creates a paradox, speculates Tsintsadze, where the doors cannot be fully opened and where someone has to be responsible for the income lost because of the limitati
