EU will start consultations on visa free regime for Ukraine
The European Parliament begins consultations on the formation of the legislative proposal for the provision of a visa free regime for Ukraine, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin has said.
"Today, all three key EU institutions clearly said: Ukraine has met all the criteria. Thus, consultations on the legislative, I stress, a formal legislative proposal, will start now, regarding the ways of receiving a visa free regime by Ukraine," he said from the rostrum of parliament during an hour of questions to the government on Friday.
He said that the ongoing consultations on the mechanism to respond to the migration risks to the EU.
As reported, the Committee of Permanent Representatives to the EU (Coreper) on behalf of the EU Council reached an agreement on a position in the talks on the liberalization of visa regime for Ukraine on Thursday. As noted in the issued EU communiqué, the Committee confirmed the European Commission’s proposal to provide a visa free regime for Ukrainian citizens when traveling to the EU for a period of stay up to 90 days during the 180 day period.
In addition, the EU Council believes that the liberalization of the visa free regime for Ukraine and the new mechanism for the suspension of the EU visa free regime with third countries should simultaneously come into effect. On the basis of this mandate, the EU Council leadership will begin negotiations with the European Parliament.
Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine Hugues Mingarelli in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine on Thursday, November 17, said, the European Commission considers that Ukraine has met all criteria for a visa free regime, and the European Commission issued a proposal for the removal of visa obligations to citizens of Ukraine a month ago.
"Now the issue is being considered by the European Parliament and the European Council. The EU is considering the issue of horizontal nature, connected with the withdrawal of a visa free regime. After the adoption this decision will be applicable to all agreements to lift visa obligations, and not only in relation to Ukraine. The ongoing discussion between the European Parliament and the European Council has nothing to do with Ukraine. Once an agreement regarding the suspension procedure of a visa free regime is reached, Ukraine will receive a visa free regime," the European diplomat said.
