VP/HR — Denial of visas for Ukrainian journalists

18.10.2013

Question for written answer E-011927-13
to the Commission (Vice-President/High Representative)
Rule 117
Paweł Zalewski (PPE)

On 15 and 16 October 2013, I organised a conference in Parliament on Ukraine’s integration with the EU. I am outraged by the difficulties faced by my Ukrainian guests in obtaining a visa for the event. These guests were journalists and representatives of civil society — the Ukrainian intellectual elite travelling to Brussels with a view to strengthening Ukraine’s relationship with the EU. They were denied the type of visa which would have allowed them flexibility in scheduling their return from the conference, in the event of unforeseen circumstances — such as delays — occurring, as is often the case in Brussels. The issue was reported by both the Ukrainian and Russian media, as well as by the prestigious newspaper The Economist. Unfortunately, this incident is not an isolated case. Last year, Mr Iurii Lisovskyi, from the civil network OPORA, experienced the same difficulties when the Belgian Embassy prevented him from participating in my conference.

The mission of sharing European values requires special attention to be paid to the image and perception of the EU institutions as open and free from prejudice, engaged in active dialogue with non-EU countries sharing the same values. EU budget efforts and resources are being put to waste in cases such as the above, where contact with representatives of the Belgian Embassy in Kiev is marked by an unfavourable and bureaucratic attitude. In this connection, the improvement of the quality of service provided by the Belgian Embassy in Kiev should be included as an important, albeit small, step in the process of Ukraine’s integration with the EU.

Ahead of the upcoming summit in Vilnius, Ukrainians have expressed their strong support for association with the EU which, as we are all aware, is a difficult process. Contact between the EU and journalists and representatives of civil society should therefore be made a fundamental factor linking the EU with other nations that share our values.

Is the European External Action Service (EEAS) aware of similar cases in those countries with aspirations of EU association, especially Ukraine? What concrete steps does the EEAS intend to take in order to prevent such issues from reoccurring in the future?

OJ C 228, 17/07/2014