The Socio-Political Impact of Labour Migration on the Country of Origin

CARIM-East: Creating an Observatory of Migration East of EuropeCARIM-East is co-financed by the European University Institute and the European Union

Readmission, return and reintegration in Georgia

It is now two years since the enactment of the Agreement between the European Union and Georgia concerning the readmission of persons residing without authorization. In this context, it may be interesting to discover whether the expectations regarding the threat of mass deportation of irregular Georgian migrants which arose during the negotiation period have been justified. According to one segment of the society and political groups in Georgia1 , the en masse forcible return of migrants to a country with an estimated unemployment rate of 32%2 (as assessed by experts) would generate economic challenges for these people and their families; moreover, it would also place a heavy burden on the country as a whole. Nor is the assumption, which holds that the EU-Georgia Agreement would serve to further impair the poor conditions in which irregular labor migrants residing in the EU countries live and work, groundless. This can be explained by the fact that the attitude of a foreign employer towards such persons might become stricter, and that he/she could be expected to increase pressure upon them3 . The other part of the aforementioned society and political groups is well aware that the coming into effect of the agreement concerning visa facilitation procedures between the European Union and Georgia was dependent upon the signing and introduction of the readmission agreement. Both treaties can be regarded as a transition step to a new phase of the relationship between Georgia and the EU.Consortium for Applied Research on International Migration (CARIM-East) is co-financed by the European University Institute and the European Unio

Relationship policy with diaspora : Georgia

Over 200 Georgian Diaspora organizations are operating abroad today. The majority of them take part in public and political life of the recipient country. At the same time, they are actively engaged in promoting and developing the Georgian culture, including the establishment of centers of culture, organization of Georgian language courses and creative associations, etc. Following the establishment of the Governmental Commission for migration issues1 in the fall of 2010, the institutional competencies of the state bodies in the area of migration have broadened. The improvement of the legislative base and the elaboration of relevant policy have followed. The national strategy for migration drafted by the Commission was approved in March 2013. Maintaining the relationship with the Diaspora has become an essential part of the Georgian migration policy.Consortium for Applied Research on International Migration (CARIM-East) is co-financed by the European University Institute and the European Unio

Human trafficking : Georgia

Georgia is a country of origin, transit and destination for victims of trafficking in persons, as well as a place where they are exploited. In order to combat human trafficking, Georgia has for several years been dynamically carrying out a series of activities, in terms of elaborating and efficiently implementing relevant legislative base. In its report dated February 7, 2012 concerning Georgia, the Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) of the Council of Europe underlined the progress achieved in combating human trafficking. This progress includes the adoption of specific legislation against trafficking, the establishment of an inter-agency coordination council for combating trafficking in persons, and a state fund for supporting victims of trafficking, as well as an increase in the ratio of budgetary funds to be allocated for the assistance of victims.1Consortium for Applied Research on International Migration (CARIM-East) is co-financed by the European University Institute and the European Unio

Policy on migration and diasporas in Georgia

Even though, due to Georgia’s geopolitical location and its demographic and economic development, the migration process management is one of the priorities in the country, no migration policy and legislation for the regulation of this field have yet been formed at the state level in Georgia. Local politicians are well aware of the major importance of the labour migration from Georgia for the overcoming of socio-economic crisis in our country. The regulation and management of migration has become a significant part of the international obligations undertaken by Georgia. One of the considerable achievements of the current authorities of Georgia is liberalization of the movement to EU countries and the support to the circular migration. However, unfortunately, bilateral interstate agreements with the main countries of immigration for the legalization of labour migration have not been completed so far. It is still not distinct yet when the work on signing an agreement1 on the residence of qualified professionals from Georgia and the circular migration with France having ongoing for the last few years, will be finalized. The proper assessment of the migration processes is not available because of the lack of the updated statistical database. Nevertheless, the state is taking major steps for regulating the registration of migration flows through the institutions and mechanisms established to serve this purpose. The gradual adoption of modern infrastructure provides for the efficient border monitoring, along with the already introduced secure identity and travel documents (the latest version of a biometric passport and a secure electronic identity card). Currently, the state is pursuing liberal visa policy for the achievement of sustainable economic development, the improvement of an infrastructure for tourism and the attraction of additional investments. Although, the potential challenges accompanying the growth of the number of migrants, should also be taken into account. This process shall be taken special care of, so as to transform it into an incentive factor for the social and economic development, and to avoid the negative consequences of uncontrolled migration, at the same time.Consortium for Applied Research on International Migration (CARIM-East) is co-financed by the European University Institute and the European Unio

Asylum seekers, refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPS) in Georgia : the challenges of social cohesion

Since the 1990s, Georgia has been facing one of its most severe problems: the resettlement and socioeconomic integration of internally displaced persons from Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region who fled as a result of internal armed conflicts. Over the past few years, the number of IDPs has increased due to the inflow of foreign nationals seeking to obtain either a refugee or a humanitarian status. These numbers have further increased following the obligation assumed by the authorities of Georgia to repatriate the Meskhetian Turks exiled in an organized way from Georgia in 1944. Although the definition of internally displaced persons provided in the legislation of Georgia does not include ecological migrants displaced due to the natural calamities, this explanatory note will also touch upon the issues of resettlement of eco-migrants along with the complex task of resettlement of the Meskhetian Turks and IDPs from Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region as well as the unified state approach to address their problems.Consortium for Applied Research on International Migration (CARIM-East) is co-financed by the European University Institute and the European Unio

Migration in the agendas : programmes of political factions and political parties in the parliament of Georgia, 2011

Even though migration regulation and management have become a major part of the international obligations assumed by Georgia, the discussion about the submission of migration processes within a legislative framework has been reflected only in international treaties and Georgia’s foreign policy strategy document. The migration issues have been covered scarcely in the agendas of political parties.Consortium for Applied Research on International Migration (CARIM-East) is co-financed by the European University Institute and the European Unio

Migratsiya v povestkakh dnya : programmakh politicheskikh fraktsiy i politicheskikh partiy v parlamente Gruzii, 2011 g.

Миграционное регулирование и управление стали важной частью международных обязательств, принятых на себя Грузией, однако обсуждение правовой основы миграционных процессов было отражено только в международных договорах и внешнеполитических документах Грузии. Миграционные вопросы слабо освещены в повестках дня политических партий.Consortium for Applied Research on International Migration (CARIM-East) is co-financed by the European University Institute and the European UnionRussian version of CARIM-East 2012/3

Politika v otnoshenii diaspor : Gruziya

В настоящее время за рубежом насчитывается более 200 Грузинских диаспорных организаций. Большинство из них участвуют в общественной и политической жизни принимающей страны. В то же время, они активно содействуют развитию и популяризации Грузинской культуры, включая создание центров культуры, организацию курсов Грузинского языка и творческих объединений, и т.д. После создания Правительственной комиссии по вопросам миграции осенью 2010 года, институциональные компетенции государственных органов в сфере миграции расширились. Далее последовали совершенствование законодательной базы и разработка соответствующей политики. Национальная стратегия по миграции, подготовленная Комиссией, была утверждена в марте 2013 года. Поддержание отношений с диаспорой стало неотъемлемой частью Грузинской миграционной политики.Consortium for Applied Research on International Migration (CARIM-East) is co-financed by the European University Institute and the European UnionRussian version of CARIM-East 2013/10

Litsa, ishchushchie ubezhishcha, bezhentsy i vnutrenne peremeshchennye litsa (VPL) : problemy sotsial'noy splochennosti v Gruzii

С 1990-х годов, Грузия сталкивалась с одной из своих самых серьезных проблем: расселением и социально-экономической интеграцией внутренне перемещенных лиц из Абхазии и Цхинвальского региона, бежавших оттуда в результате внутренних вооруженных конфликтов. За последние несколько лет число ВПЛ возросло за счет притока иностранных граждан, стремящихся получить либо статус беженца, либо гуманитарный статус. Эти цифры еще более возросли после принятого властями Грузии обязательства по репатриации турок-месхетинцев, высланных в организованном порядке из Грузии в 1944 году. Несмотря на то, что определение внутренне перемещенных лиц, предусмотренное законодательством Грузии, не включает в себя экологических мигрантов, перемещенных в результате стихийных бедствий, настоящая пояснительная записка затрагивает также вопросы переселения эко-мигрантов, турок-месхетинцев и вынужденных переселенцев из Абхазии и Цхинвальского региона, а также единый подход государства к решению их проблем.Consortium for Applied Research on International Migration (CARIM-East) is co-financed by the European University Institute and the European UnionRussian version of CARIM-East 2013/13