Ukraine should not change its policy regarding a no-visa regime for
the EU citizens, Ukraine's Roman Zvarych, MP, was speaking February 25
at the meeting of the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Cooperation Committee in
Brussels, UKRINFORM reported.
Asked about Ukraine's possible reaction to shortcomings in
implementing a bilateral agreement on visa regime simplification on the
part of a number of states, Zvarych noted that this circumstance should
not be subject of automatic revision of own commitments on behalf of
Ukraine. “It is likely necessary to ensure that the EU very thoroughly
fulfills its tasks and commitments,” the politician said.
He underlined that the discussion between Ukraine and the EU on visa
issues is in progress, in particular, regarding the principle of
equality the EU sticks to in relations with other countries.
“Signs intimate that the visa dialogue is running more or less
successfully. There is a prospect that we can reach not only a
simplified visa regime, but also a no-visa regime for our citizens. A
step-by-step movement is needed there,” the Ukrainian MP stressed.
At the February 25 meeting in Brussels, some disagreements emerged
between the stands of the Ukrainian and European parties relative to
the possible terms of introducing a no-visa regime of travelling to the
EU countries for the Ukrainians. Head of the Ukrainian delegation Borys
Tarasiuk noted that Ukraine is ready to work hard and back efforts of
the European Commission to achieve a common goal - introduction of a
no-visa regime for the Ukrainians even by 2012 (by the date of hosting
UEFA EURO 2012 in Ukraine and Poland). According to him, “a long-term
perspective” should be limited by the very temporary frames the
Europeans are speaking about in the context of the visa dialogue with
Ukraine.
