The European Union has postponed the decision on granting Ukraine a visa-free regime across the Schengen zone because of the position of individual member states, Deputy Head of Presidential Administration of Ukraine Kostyantyn Yeliseyev has told Obozrevatel.
”The delay was due to the position of individual Member States, for whom it is very difficult to cross the psychological barrier in terms of visa liberalization with one of the largest countries in Europe. Now I would speak only of France. Despite the fact this is a delicate issue for the French side, it must be admitted. I hope France will not delay the technical procedures until the date of their presidential election in April 2017,” Yeliseyev said.
According to the official, it is safe to say that 2017 will be the year of visa liberalization between Ukraine and the EU.
”But I`ve always said, I am saying now, and will keep saying that we should shy away from specific time frames in order not to mislead the optimists and not to ”feed” pessimists,” said the deputy head of the PA.
Read also”No one postponed anything”: EP source elaborates on date of Ukraine visa lib vote Earlier, the European Parliament officials elaborated on the procedure of adoption of a visa waiver suspension mechanism and told the media of the time frame when they would start inter-institutional talks on granting Ukraine a visa-free regime.
Presidential Administration says visa lib postponed due to position of individual member states
The European Union has postponed the decision on granting Ukraine a visa-free regime across the Schengen zone because of the position of individual Member States, Deputy Head of Presidential Administration of Ukraine Kostyantyn Yeliseyev has told Obozrevatel.
”The delay was due to the position of individual Member States, for whom it is very difficult to cross the psychological barrier in terms of visa liberalization with one of the largest countries in Europe. Now I would speak only of France. Despite the fact this is a delicate issue for the French side, it must be admitted. I hope France will not delay the technical procedures until the date of their presidential election in April 2017,” Yeliseyev said.
According to the official, it is safe to say that 2017 will be the year of visa liberalization between Ukraine and the EU.
”But I`ve always said, I am saying now, and will keep saying that we should shy away from specific time frames in order not to mislead the optimists and not to ”feed” pessimists,” said the deputy head of the PA.
Earlier, the European Parliament officials elaborated on the procedure of adoption of a visa waiver suspension mechanism and told the media of the time frame when they would start inter-institutional talks on granting Ukraine a visa-free regime.
