The actual introduction of the visa regime for Ukraine by the European Union can be postponed to the summer of 2017 due to delays in reaching an internal European agreement on a visa waiver suspension mechanism before year-end, RFE/RL reporter in Brussels Rikard Jozwiak says.
”Not sure there will be a deal on suspension mechanism in 2016. Might have to wait till after elections in April-May,” he tweeted Thursday.
The EU institutions may resume the talks on the matter after the first and second rounds of French presidential elections, scheduled for April 23 and May 7 correspondingly.
Based on this suggestion, visa liberalization for Ukraine and Georgia may be enforced no earlier than the summer of 2017, given the decision shall enter into force 21 days after its approval.
Earlier:
17 November, 2016 EU Ambassadors to greenlight talks on Ukraine visa liberalization Nov 17
12 October, 2016 No visa waver for Ukrainians on European Parliament`s October agenda
6 October, 2016 EU diplomats to discuss visa waiver for Ukraine on Oct 27
26 September, 2016 European Parliament`s Committee on home affairs okays report on visa-free travel for Ukraine
13 September Ukraine to get visa-free regime with EU in October – Poroshenko
30 June, 2016 Poroshenko says decisive ”weeks or even days” ahead in visa liberalization issue for Ukraine
3 June, 2016 Poroshenko confident Ukraine to get visa-free regime with EU as early as this year
26 May, 2016 Ukraine expects to see EU `visa decision` before summer break
12 January, 2015 Poroshenko hopes visas will be cancelled at summit in Riga
17 December, 2014 Ukraine to be ready for visa-free regime with EU by Riga summit – Poroshenko
1 December, 2014 Visa-free regime with EU can become a reality in May – Foreign Ministry
1 October, 2014 EU confirms its readiness to introduce visa-free regime for Ukrainians
