19 February 2009, 08:59
Mykola Tomenko suggests considering a Possibility of restoring Visa Regime for the Countries of the European Union
Mykola Tomenko, Vice-Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, addressed the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine with a request to consider a possibility of restoring visa system for the citizens of the European Union in accordance with the Agreement between Ukraine and the European Community on simplification of visa issuance.
Thus, since 1 May 2005, citizens of the EU member-countries have been relieved from registration of visas for entry in Ukraine for the period up to 90 days or for transit.
The Agreement on simplification of visas was signed on 18 June 2007. It presupposes simplification of the procedure of registration and issuance of visas, fixed rate of visa duty 35 EUR, free visas for certain categories of population, possibility of issuance of multiple long-term (up to 5 years) visas, obligatory explanation of refusal in the registration of visa.
The Agreement was ratified by the European Parliament in November 2007 and endorsed by the Council of Ministers of the European Union. The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine ratified the Agreement on 15 January 2008.
However M.Tomenko believes that actual simplification of the visa regime with the EU failed to take place for the period the Agreement has been effective. Moreover, the prospects of introduction of visa-free system for Ukrainian citizens remain vague. Certain positive changes concern very few categories of citizens; therefore, Europe has not become closer for the absolute majority of Ukrainian citizens. M.Tomenko also stated that even careful steps towards wider transparency had been hindered in practice.
"I deem reasonable to restore symmetrical application of visa system between Ukraine and the European Union on the grounds of the effective Agreement on simplification of visas", - stated the Vice-Chairman.