Khoroshkovsky: EC may use sanctions against states not complying with visa facilitation agreement with Ukraine

Brussels – The European Commission may resort to sanctions, including legal actions, against the EU member-states that are not complying with the visa facilitation agreement with Ukraine. 

First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Valeriy Khoroshkovsky discussed this issue with European Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmström.

"All the reports [of such facts] are being summed up, and the European Commission will now make requests to these countries. We believe that we're acting within the framework of European legislation concerning the arrangements to liberalize the visa regime. And if the countries fail to comply with it, the European Commission may resort to sanctions, up to lawsuits," Khoroshkovsky told Ukrainian journalists after the meeting.

"We want fair treatment for our citizens," the first deputy prime minister said.

In addition, the officials discussed the issue of the adoption of the law on biometric passports in Ukraine.

"We assured [the EU] that we would try to use the remaining two working days of this session of the parliament is to ensure that this legislation be adopted, and that we can fulfill this part of the commitments to the EU," Khoroshkovsky said.

In turn, Malmström wrote on her Twitter page "Met with Ukraine deputy PM Khoroshkovsky to discuss visa issues. The visa free regime is a common goal, but we're not there yet."