Ukrainians will get the chance to travel to the European Union countries without visas soon.
On May 11, the EU Council of Ministers adopted a regulation on visa liberalization for Ukrainian citizens.
Only a signing ceremony in the European Parliament and publication in an EU journal remain before Ukrainians with biometric passports are able to travel to the EU for up to 90 days for business, tourist or family reasons. Visa-free travel comes into force 20 days after publication in June.
The European Parliament press service told the Kyiv Post on May 11 that the signing ceremony is planned to be held in Strasbourg, France, on May 17. Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko is expected to take part in the ceremony along with many other EU officials.
“The adoption of the regulation on visa liberalization for Ukrainian citizens is an important development, which will help strengthen ties between the people of Ukraine and the EU,” Carmelo Abela, Maltese minister for home affairs and national security said in a press release, published on EU Council website on May 11.
“Furthermore, the revised suspension mechanism recently adopted by the EU makes it possible for the union to suspend such liberalization, if there are serious migration or security issues with Ukraine,” Abela said.
The European Parliament voted for visa-free travel for Ukraine during a session in Strasbourg on April 6. A total of 521 of its 751 members supported the decision.
The official European Union delegation in Ukraine greets Ukrainians with visa liberalization.
