Granting a visa-free regime to Ukraine and the process of peaceful settlement of Donbas conflict in the Normandy format are not interdependent, according to the Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine for European Integration Olena Zerkal, Ukraine Today reports.
”European Union is an institution acting in accordance with its internal regulations and decisions. As to the Minsk process and the Normandy Format, two EU leaders – of Germany and France – are involved in it. Indeed, there are fears that delay of the decision to cancel visa regime could be related to the events taking place in Normandy format. However, this is not true,” Zerkal told one of Ukraine`s TV channels, according to Ukraine Today.
Deputy Foreign Minister added that visa liberalization issue might be added to the European Parliament`s agenda after November 7 when the EU institutions [the European Parliament and the Council of Europe] conclude discussions on the so-called suspension mechanism.
The suspension mechanism enables EU members to temporarily reintroduce visa requirements for third-country nationals in the event of sudden surges in irregular immigration.
Some EU member states, including Germany and France, oppose granting more visa-free movement before theemergency mechanism is beefed up.
