Georgia’s ruling party blasts US and EU ‘blackmail,’ vows to pass Russia-style law – POLITICO

“Our country has been the subject of constant attack by a number of American politicians and officials, from which the Georgian government has to defend itself,” the ruling party said, calling for “rational sense to prevail in America.” Georgian Dream said Washington should grant relaxed visa requirements and sign a free-trade agreement “without any conditions,” … Read more

Spain to scrap cash-for-visas scheme – POLITICO

The majority of this investment is highly concentrated: 94 out of every 100 visas obtained through this legal procedure are linked to investment in real estate in major cities such as Barcelona, Madrid, Malaga, Alicante, Valencia or Palma de Mallorca, El País reported. According to the Socialist leader, the program has become a “speculative model” … Read more

Trump says Prince Harry could be deported from US over drug use – POLITICO

“Which might mean … not staying in America?” interviewer Nigel Farage asked, to which a seemingly coy Trump answered: “Oh I don’t know. You’ll have to tell me. You just have to tell me.” Prince Harry’s visa status has been at the center of a legal row since an American conservative think tank, the Heritage … Read more

9 times Hungarian leader has been a thorn in Brussels’ side – POLITICO

This includes issues in the awarding of public contracts, restrictions on academic freedoms, a “child protection law” widely viewed as homophobic and the treatment of asylum seekers.  The row over the so-called child protection law has turned into legal action, as 15 member countries and the European Parliament have joined a lawsuit brought by the Commission … Read more

French top court nixes cushy visa deal for rich Brits – POLITICO

The Macron government, which doesn’t have a majority in the lower house, managed to pass the bill in December under an agreement with the right-wing Les Républicains movement, tweaking the planned reform to accede to requests by hardline conservatives. The bill was ultimately also supported by far-right opposition leader Marine Le Pen, who dubbed it … Read more

Former Polish minister arrested in cash-for-visas probe – POLITICO

Poland’s former deputy foreign minister was arrested in connection with the ongoing investigation into the country’s cash-for-visas scandal, Warsaw’s anti-corruption agency said Wednesday. Piotr Wawrzyk, who served as deputy foreign minister from January 2021 until August last year, was detained and charged with exceeding his authority in handling ministry documents, Poland’s Central Anti-Corruption Bureau (CBA) … Read more

Make-or-break national election looms over Belgian EU presidency – POLITICO

Press play to listen to this article Voiced by artificial intelligence. This article is part of the Belgian Presidency of the EU special report. BRUSSELS — Ceci n’est pas une campagne électorale.  As Belgium gears up for its six-month stint at the helm of the Council of the European Union from January 1, the country’s … Read more

UK waters down plan for £38,700 minimum salary to bring over foreign spouses – POLITICO

LONDON — The U.K. government softened its controversial plan to make it more difficult for people to bring non-British spouses to the U.K. Under a major legal migration shake-up announced earlier this month, the Home Office declared that it would significantly raise the minimum salary that British citizens or migrants already settled in the U.K. … Read more

South Africa’s visa quagmire bogs down economy

Tens of thousands of foreign executives, engineers and other key workers have endured a year-long wait for South African visas that business groups say is costing investment and threatening the country’s position as a continental hub. ALSO READ | Seven reasons why Jacob Zuma WILL NOT vote ANC Already suffering from lacklustre growth and high … Read more