Overall, Georgia continues to fulfil the visa liberalization benchmarks and has taken action to address the Commission’s previous recommendations, – reads the fifth report on the EU visa-free regime with Western Balkans Eastern Partnership countries.
The document reads that despite the above, efforts are needed in visa policy and fighting money laundering and organized crime.
As the document notes, Georgia should further address the following issues:
a) Align Georgia’s visa policy with the EU’s list of visa-required third countries, in particular those third countries presenting irregular migration or security risks to the EU.
b) Continue to address unfounded asylum applications in Member States; tailor information campaigns on the visa-free regime to relevant migrant profiles, including vulnerable groups, those remaining beyond the period for which entry was granted (overstays), and those making unfounded asylum applications.
c) Increase efforts to tackle corruption, in particular the role of large-scale vested interests and their influence in the economic and political spheres, in particular by strengthening the independence and coordination of anti-corruption institutions as well as providing them with necessary resources.
d) Finalize efforts to fully align national legislation with the EU acquis on anti-money laundering and counterterrorism financing.
e) Step up efforts against organized crime, especially the networks connected to operations in the EU.
f) Fully align the procedure for appointing Supreme Court judges with the Venice Commission’s recommendations, and adopt and implement legislation evaluating the integrity and performance of Supreme Court judges.
g) Ensure the independence of the data protection authority.
