The European Union has reiterated its readiness to introduce a visa-free regime for Ukrainian citizens after Ukraine fulfill the requirements of the action plan on visa liberalization with the EU.
Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Yevhen Perebyinis disclosed at a briefing on Tuesday such conclusions of the work of the EU’s expert evaluation missions that worked in Ukraine on September 15-26, Ukrinform’s correspondent reported.
“The EU side has confirmed its readiness to introduce a visa-free travel regime for citizens of Ukraine after the requirements of the action plan are fulfilled. The results of the missions’ work are a sign of significant progress made by Ukraine in the implementation of the relevant criteria,” Perebyinis said.
He said that these missions assessed Ukraine’s readiness to introduce biometric travel documents, the state of control over Ukraine’s state border, the effectiveness of migration management and public policy in the field of asylum.
According to Perebyinis, Ukraine expects that the expert missions to assess the next blocks of the action plan (on ensuring public order and safety and fundamental human rights and freedoms) will arrive in Ukraine in November-December.
“As a result of the work of the missions the European Commission will prepare a report on Ukraine’s implementation of the second phase of the action plan,” he said.
If a decision is made on the implementation by Ukraine of all criteria of the second phase of the action plan, the European Commission is to submit to the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament a legislative proposal on the withdrawal of Ukraine from the list of countries with a visa entry regime and the inclusion of the country in the list of countries whose citizens do not require visas for short-term trips (90 days) to the EU member states.
