**Germany Freezes Upgrade of Scientific Cooperation with Georgia**
The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research has decided to freeze the upgrade of scientific cooperation with Georgia. This decision was announced by German Ambassador Peter Fischer on February 26.
**What does this mean?**
The decision will affect student mobility and research programs between Germany and Georgia. This means that Georgian students may face difficulties when applying for scholarships or participating in research projects in Germany. Georgian universities’ participation in EU-funded initiatives may also be affected.
**Why was the decision made?**
According to Ambassador Fischer, the decision was made due to “Georgia’s curbs on academic freedom and the halt of EU accession.” In other words, Germany is unhappy with Georgia’s restrictions on academic freedom and its decision not to join the European Union.
**What stays unchanged?**
Despite the freeze on scientific cooperation, Germany will continue to fund education in Georgia. The DAAD scholarships, which support graduate students, doctoral students, and post-graduate students, are also unaffected for now. However, Germany is closely monitoring the situation and reviewing its relationships with Georgia with regret.
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