KHARKIV – EU representative in Ukraine Hugues Mingarelli said at a briefing in Kharkiv on Dec. 13 that the visa-free status for Ukrainians in EU member states will begin working in several months. He said he can’t give the exact date, but it will depend on EU legal formalities.
The ambassador said the EU authorities have decided that Ukrainians will have visa-free status in the EU within several months and that there is an agreement among all 28 EU member states on this issue.
EU officials say introduction of the visa-free travel regime should be simultaneously introduced with a mechanism to suspend visa-free travel with non-member states.
According to information posted on the website of the European Parliament, debates on this issue will take place on Dec. 14. On Dec. 15 voting on a measure for suspending visa-free travel will be tabled for consideration.
In addition, on Dec. 12 the Internet news service Yevropeiska Pravda (European Truth) said the European Parliament’s website had posted a revised forecast for the date of considering the measure for revoking short-term visas for Ukrainian citizens.
“The European Parliament has resolved to consider the Ukrainian issue during its second session in 2017, on February 1. It had been expected the hearing would take place on January 18 – the projected scenario appearing on the European Parliament’s website,” Yevropeiska Pravda said.
