Ukraine moves to 2nd phase of visa liberalisation process
28 May 2014 11:31 AM
The Commission has
adopted its fourth progress report on the implementation by Ukraine of the Visa
Liberalisation Action Plan (VLAP). It concludes that Ukraine has put in
place the necessary legislative, policy and institutional framework and meets
the first-phase requirements of the visa dialogue.
This decision represents
another important deliverable in the context of the package of support to
Ukraine presented by the Commission on 5 March (IP/14/219).
President Barroso said:
"The proposal to move to the second stage of the visa
liberalisation action plan is first and foremost a recognition of the important
legislative reforms adopted in the recent months. While important work still
lies ahead, this is a very concrete sign to the Ukrainian authorities and
citizens that with perseverance the benefits of a closer association with the
EU are real and tangible to all."
"I am pleased with the
results of our formal assessment and wish to congratulate the Ukrainian
authorities for their sustained efforts aimed at obtaining a visa free
regime with the EU. We can now move to the second phase. I am
fully convinced that all the Ukrainian institutions will
continue the hard work and I look forward to seeing the results in the form of
a concrete and comprehensive implementation track record", said
Cecilia Malmström, Commissioner for Home Affairs.
Since the last Commission report
in November 2013 (IP/13/1085), Ukraine has adopted laws in the fields
of document security, asylum, anti-corruption, anti-discrimination and data
protection, as well as other measures in order to address the identified
gaps.
After analysing these
reforms, including the last package of amendments adopted by the Ukrainian
Parliament on 13 May and the Interpretation of the Supreme Specialised Court of
Ukraine for Civil and Criminal Cases, the Commission concludes that Ukraine
fulfils the remaining first-stage benchmarks in all the areas covered by
the VLAP. As a result, the assessment of the benchmarks under the second phase
of the VLAP can be launched.
The Commission stands ready to
provide assistance on the implementation of the
legislative, policy and institutional framework. It hopes that the necessary
resources will be made available by Ukrainian authorities in order to ensure
thorough implementation of all the rules, including on
discrimination, where it expects the full completion of the
reform of the protection framework.
Background
This decision is inscribed in
the broader context of the Commission's support package, of which
facilitating mobility is indeed an important pillar (see MEMO/14/279) and represents yet another important deliverable in the
context of the package of support to Ukraine presented by the Commission on 5
March (seeIP/14/219).
The enhanced mobility of
citizens in a secure and well-managed environment is also one of the core
objectives of the Eastern Partnership. To this end, the EU carries out Visa
Liberalisation Dialogues with interested partner countries.
The main tool of the dialogue is
the Visa Liberalisation Action Plan which is tailor-made for each partner
country and structured around four blocks concerning i) document security,
including biometrics; ii) integrated border management, migration management,
asylum; iii) public order and security; and iv) external
relations and fundamental rights.
The Action plan contains two
tiers of benchmarks: first phase benchmarks concerning the overall policy
framework (legislation and institutions), which are to pave the way for the
second phase benchmarks relating to effective and sustainable implementation of
the relevant measures.
The EU-Ukraine Visa
Liberalisation Dialogue was launched on 29 October 2008 and the VLAP was
presented to the Ukraine on 22 November 2010.
Yesterday's progress report
is the fourth of its kind.
Useful Links
Fourth progress
report for Ukraine
Cecilia
Malmström's website
Follow Commissioner
Malmström on Twitter
DG Home Affairs website
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on Twitter