In a fresh respite for Georgian students, the European Union cleared that students exchange program will not be suspended. The European Union also confirmed these programs will continue despite no direct funding.
There were many sections in Georgian students’ community who confirmed this development. They said this is a kind of big relief for Georgian students who want to have higher study in foreign countries.
The press office of European Union made this significant announcement recently. The press office while responding to IPN’s correspondent in Brussels about this.
Although the students will be able to receive the benefits as usual however there will not be any direct fund transfer to Government of Georgia from European Union which was very crucial so far.
While making it specific they added that, “Nobody should be panic as we are not going to hold or suspend the students exchange programs which also includes the Erasmus+.
However, we will not transfer a direct funding. The press office representative also added that we always acknowledge the participation of Georgian students’ community for democracy in country.
The students of Georgia were always in leading role to put pressure on Georgian government to integrate with European Union. We will stand with students’ community having pro-European Union approach as well, added press office of European Union.
It is worth to note the timing of announcement is very crucial. This came at the time when German Federal Ministry of Education and Research’s already made it clear that they are going to freeze its planned upgrade with Georgia. Many education experts were expecting strict restriction from European Union since implementation of foreign agent’s law.
On the other hand, the Ambassador of Germany to Georgia Peter Fischer, while clearing fog over this said Georgia has taken this as a reaction to curb of Georgia government on academic freedom and suspension it talks over European Union.
Meanwhile the DAAD scholarships which are being provided to the graduates, doctoral students and postgraduates are currently unaffected despite restrictions.
