Visa facilitation for Ukrainian citizens

21.6.2012

Question for written answer E-006142/2012
to the Commission
Rule 117
Paweł Zalewski (PPE)

An agreement between Ukraine and the EU amending the visa facilitation agreement between Ukraine and the EU was initialled on 16 February 2012. The Government of Ukraine claims to have completed the procedures required for signature of the amended agreement.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Kostyantyn Gryshchenko, has declared his readiness to sign this agreement during his visit to Brussels on 23-24 July 2012 to attend the Fourth Eastern Partnership (EaP) Foreign Ministers’ meeting. Nonetheless, it seems the Commission is not actively supporting the signing of the agreement on this occasion.

Visa facilitation is an important issue for many Ukrainians from a variety of organisations: companies, NGOs, and civil society organisations. In the recent past, we have witnessed a number of cases where Ukrainian travellers were impeded in their attempts to enter the EU. In order to avoid this situation continuing in future, I would greatly welcome the Commission speeding up the process of finalising the agreement.

Therefore, I would like to ask the Commission: what is the planned timeframe to do so and what are (or have been) the obstacles which constitute the reason for the current delay?

OJ C 199 E, 11/07/2013