The Reform for the Future group of deputies in parliament has asked Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych to veto the law on biometric passports, as, in the opinion of the group's members, it does not meet the requirements of the European Union and the Constitution of Ukraine.
"Those who lobbied for the adoption of the law in the session hall of the Verkhovna Rada claimed that it would include a green light to the introduction of the visa-free regime with EU member states. However, the regional office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees has a diametrically opposite view. The key provisions of the adopted law, according to international experts, do not meet European and international standards.
The adopted document, according to the office of the UN High Commissioner, not only fails to bring Ukraine closer to the EU, but, vice versa, it undermines efforts to meet the requirements of an action plan to liberalize the visa regime with the EU," the press service of Reform for the Future leader Ihor Rybakov quoted him as saying on Monday.
The MP also noted that the cost of the minimum number of documents necessary for all Ukrainian citizens (domestic passports, foreign passports, social identity cards, identity cards of the insured people, pension certificates, certificates of persons with disabilities, and driving licenses) will be Hr 1,600.
"It means that in 2012 alone our citizens will have to spend Hr 60 billion on these documents," Rybakov said.
