German officials see no obstacles for Ukraine`s visa-free regime with EU – Envoy

Monday, May 30, 2016 - 23:10 (EEST) Section: Latest news

President of Germany`s Federal Criminal Police Office Holger Muench supports the introduction of a visa-free regime between Ukraine and the European Union, Ukraine`s Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany, Andriy Melnyk, wrote on Twitter.
”The Important talks with the president of Germany`s Federal Criminal Office Holger Muench. Chief of the Federal Criminal Office H.Muench: I see no obstacles for my part for the visa-free regime for Ukraine,” Melnyk wrote.
As reported, the European Commission April 20 adopted a legislative initiative to add Ukraine onto the list of countries enjoying a visa-free regime and handed the initiative to the Council of Europe and the European Parliament for further discussion and decision-making.
On May 20, the EU interior ministers agreed on their position on the so-called mechanism for the emergency suspension of a visa-free regime with third countries.
According to foreign media reports, the same day the Minister of Internal Affairs of France Bernard Cazeneuve said that the issue of granting Ukraine the visa-free regime with the EU would not be considered in the near future.
In turn, German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere also said that ”no new visa liberalization decisions” would be taken prior to the approval of an emergency mechanism for suspending the visa-free regime.
However, the head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine, Jan Tombinski, May 20 said that the introduction of the EU visa regime for Ukraine, on which the European Parliament is to take decision, is going according to plan, and there is no information about delays.
The visa working group of the Council of Europe will continue to discuss the proposals of the European Commission to grant Ukraine a visa-free regime at the next meeting on June 14.