Georgia joins European Migration Network as Observer

In March 2021, Georgia joined the European Migration Network as observer. The working arrangement represents an important step towards reinforced cooperation in the areas of migration and asylum.

In the beginning of the year 2021, the European Migration Network welcomes for the first time countries outside the European Economic Area: Georgia and Moldova.

Ms. Monique Pariat, Director General of the Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs of the European Commission, stated: “In order to manage migration better, it is important to increase EU cooperation with third countries. This was emphasised in the New Pact on Migration and Asylum. Having Georgia as a part of the European Migration Network will enable us to share our European good practices in managing migration while getting a better understanding of migration from a Caucasus perspective”.

Mr. Gocha Lordkipanidze, the Minister of Justice of Georgia, Chair of the State Commission on Migration Issues, said: “Joining the EMN is very important for Georgia. Development of migration management system is an important pillar of Georgia’s integration with the European Union. Therefore, the policy is based on the principle of ‘migration and development’, emphasizing research, expert exchanges, analysis on modern migratory trends and means for reaction – everything in which the European Migration Network is advanced in”.

The working arrangements establish the conditions of the administrative cooperation between the European Commission and Georgia in the European Migration Network that accommodate both current and future co-operation needs.