2017-03-24
Due to the introduction of visa-free travel to the Schengen Area countries, a special application will be installed at the border checkpoints, the Prime Minister of Georgia stated at today's Government meeting. According to Giorgi Kvirikashvili, the Ministry of Justice, in cooperation with the Interior Ministry, is working on special changes to the customs system.
"Today, when people use visas to travel to EU member states, no reentry date is recorded. However, we will install a special application at our border checkpoints. Failure to return from Europe within three months, as prescribed by the visa-free travel procedures, will be automatically communicated to the Ministries of Justice and Interior. We will notify the EU member states and launch a proactive search of non-returnees to ensure the activation of readmission procedures. Of course, all expenses will be covered by the state. In due course, however, the violator will be fined to cover the cost," the Prime Minister stated.
According to Giorgi Kvirikashvili, Georgia cherishes the success with visa liberalization, and extra caution must be exercised, and the Government spares no effort to ensure Georgia's place on the list of safe countries of origin.
"I want every Georgia citizen to know that, given the importance of this achievement, it is equally important to be a responsible partner of the EU member states. Let me explain once again. After the expiration of the 90-day period, the red signal will turn on at our border checkpoints, and we will send information about the violators to every EU member state, which will launch their internal search and readmission procedures. Importantly, we will closely cooperate with the EU member states to include Georgia on the list of safe countries of origin in order to minimize chances of banal reasons for requesting asylum. Within the three months we are given after the launch of visa-free travel, we will finalize the internal system procedures, so I want every Georgian citizen enjoying visa-free travel to Europe to know it in advance," the Prime Minister emphasized.
Prime Minister's Press Office