06 November 2013, 15:22
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine significantly contributed to visa regime facilitation. This was claimed by the First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ihor Kalyetnik on Wednesday, when opening parliamentary hearings entitled “Visa free regime between Ukraine and the EU: prospects and new opportunities for the citizens of Ukraine.”
According to him, for the last years 36 different legislative acts were adopted, current laws were amended, conventions and resolutions on cooperation were ratified and new state programmes were approved. “As a result, as of 2013 we can see considerable progress in visa issue,” stressed I.Kalyetnik.
He noted that for the last years the amount of visa refusals has decreased by 2,5 times and now is about 2%.
The First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada called the issue, submitted for present parliamentary hearings, “important and topical” since the problem of receiving and issuing visas is not only a political issue. “It is sensitive for millions of Ukrainians travelling abroad, particularly to the EU member-states. It allows to carry on business, establish business contacts and just to travel,” he stressed. “In general, the issue of simplifying the procedure of receiving and issuing visas should be depoliticized as much as possible.
I.Kalyetnik reminded that in 2005 Ukraine has unilaterally cancelled all visa requirements for the citizens of EU and the talks on introducing visa free regime for the citizens of Ukraine with the European Union are held since 2008.
The First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine noted also that there is active cooperation in the sphere of simplifying local trans-border movement with the EU member states. As of today, Ukraine has concluded three Agreements on local trans-border movement – with Slovakia, Poland and Hungary. The scope of respective agreements encompasses 1700 populated areas and concerns more than 2 million of citizens residing in the trans-border zone.
I.Kalyetnik informed that the possibility of amending these agreements is studied today. Particularly, in the part of decreasing payment amount for finalizing licenses necessary for crossing border, as well as increasing the number of populated areas that shall be included into the 30-kilometer zone.
Summing up, the First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada claimed that interests of our citizens and their right to freedom of movement, that should be secured by the state, should be in the focus when it goes about establishment of visa free regime, and not only with the EU countries.