Ukraine expects that the European Union will confirm the possibility of introducing the visa-free regime with Ukraine at the Eastern Partnership summit in Riga, scheduled to be held at the end of May, and Ukraine hopes that visa-free trips will be launched in early 2016, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin has said.
“During the Riga summit we expect to receive a political message on the visa-free regime and that after all reforms foreseen in the second phase of the visa-free regime [are implemented] we would receive a positive decision of the European Commission which will be supported by [EU] state members,” he said on the Ukraina TV channel.
Klimkin said that in line with its obligations as part of the introduction of the visa-free regime the reformation of the Interior Ministry is being completed, reforms have been passed to fight corruption, and biometric passports are being issued.
Klimkin said he hoped that by the end of the year all the required procedures will be completed and the visa-free regime will be in operation next year.
“I hope that with the beginning of next year the visa-free regime will function. We’re working on this,” he added.
