Ukraine made another step toward facilitation and extra liberalization of the visa regime with the ecu, enabling Ukrainian citizens to undergo improved, simplified and clear EU visa application procedures. Such is the summary of the statement which accompanied the hot Law of Ukraine “On ratification of the agreement between Ukraine and the eu Union introducing amendments to the visa facilitation agreement between Ukraine and the ecu Community”, signed by the President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych on April 8, 2013.
The agreement expands the types of Ukrainian citizens eligible for the simplified procedure of having free and/or multiple-entry visas, improves visa issuing procedures for media representatives and determines clear periods of validity of multiple-entry visas.
Thus, the representatives of civil society organizations traveling for the aim of academic training, seminars, conferences, including those inside the framework of exchange programs; participants in official EU programs of cross-border cooperation, resembling the eu Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI), may apply for the simplified visa procedures. The simplified visa application procedures also are available to the members of pro and non secular organizations and teenagers (under 25) who perform events organized by NGOs abroad.
According to the agreement, Ukrainian journalists may apply for multiple-entry visas for the term of as much as five years with a reference from their Ukraine-based employer rather than submitting the invitation from the european-based host party. Additionally, members of the media technical crew (videographers, sound editors, etc.) also are eligible for the simplified visa application procedure.
The new law also offers simplified visa procedures to spouses, children (including adopted) parents (including custodians), grandparents and grandchildren, who intend to go to citizens of Ukraine legally residing within the territory of the ecu member states.
On March 22, 2013, Ukrainian parliament ratified the amendments to the visa facilitation agreement signed between Ukraine and the eu Union on July 23, 2012 in Brussels.
Reportedly, the ecu Parliament is scheduled to check the agreement between Ukraine and the ecu Union introducing amendments to the visa facilitation agreement between Ukraine and the eu Community on April 17, 2013.
The visa liberalisation dialogue between the parties was initialed in 2006. Currently, Ukraine is at stage among the two-step Action Plan on Visa Liberalisation.