Georgia with highest EU visa refusal rate
Citing a recent survey by recent Tbilisi Liberal Academy, Georgian Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Giorgi Baramidze said Georgia received the highest EU visa refusal rate in the region, Civil Georgia reported.
He said, “Visa rejection is very serious problem… At the same time, however, Georgia is leading with regards to visa permission.” Noting the growing number of rejected visa applications, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili has discussed the issue.
He told EU member states structures that they have been opposing the agreement, which the EU Commissioner signed with Georgia on behalf of EU member states, Baramidze said. The government intends to raise their concerns to the EU Commissioner. Baramidze noted that some EU member states complicate visa issuance procedures instead of the promised facilitation of the visa regime.
The report states that the Netherlands has the highest rate of refusal, at 26.6% in 2011, compared to 21.4% in 2010. Czech refusals rose to 19.9% from 18.9% in the same period, while Germany denied 12% of Georgian visas, up from 10.9%. Refusals from Estonia, Greece, and Lithuania were at the top of the list.
