Ukrainian citizens will soon be able to travel to the European Union without visas.
The EPP Group Rapporteur Mariya Gabriel MEP said at the end of the trialogue: “We are convinced that Ukrainian citizens deserve to travel freely immediately to the EU. The time has come for the European Council to deliver results. Ukraine has achieved all the criteria requirements set out by the EU and has even gone beyond all expectations.”
The visa liberalisation process has been a very effective instrument for the implementation of ambitious reforms in Ukraine in the domains of security, justice and fundamental freedoms that benefit the Ukrainian citizens in their daily lives.
"The European Union and Ukraine are strategic partners for a safer, more stable and more prosperous Eastern Neighbourhood. Adopting the visa waiver for Ukrainian citizens is an important step forward to strengthening the Ukrainian society by bringing people together and building bridges beyond borders. It is only fair that a swift agreement is reached with the Council and in the quickest delay so that Ukrainian citizens may travel freely to the EU. We must confirm the principle under which every country that achieves the benchmark criteria set out by the EU should benefit from the visa liberalisation regime", concluded the Rapporteur.
The agreement will come into force following the EP's plenary approval and the Council's subsequent signatures.
Note to Editors
Once the proposal is adopted by the European Parliament and the Council, Ukrainian citizens with biometric passports will no longer require visas when travelling for short stays of up to 90 days to the Schengen area for business, tourist or family purposes. The visa-free travel will apply to all EU Member States except Ireland and the UK, as well as the four Schengen associated countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland).
The EPP Group is the largest political group in the European Parliament with 217 Members from 27 Member States
