Thursday, May 25, 2006

EU and Free Movement of People

If you are a citizen of Georgia and decided to travel to EU - you are in great trouble: you need a visa! Ordinary way - you can say. But not for Georgians (I assume for many others too). And where is the principle of free movement – you can ask: it is for elite - EU citizens but not for Georgians.
If you have a business in Belgium for instance - you are lost - you can never have visa - because you are obliged to go to Moscow for it and you need a visa for Russia as well. And it is even worse - so forget about Belgium and business.
If you still want to apply for visa for Austria - it's not better. You have to go to Kiev - great deal. Return ticket for USD 250, hotel for USD 200 for 3 nights and a visa fee for EUR 35=USD 45 = USD 500. And there is no guarantee - you can return back to Georgia without visa and without any explanation.
The most important is that you have to go yourself to apply - you cannot send application and supporting documents by express mail or even diplomatic mail - the Ministry of Foreign Affairs cannot guarantee anything!
Free movement, democracy, freedom, openness, peace etc. Who believes?

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