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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsUkraine on track for visa-free travel, so far
On May 28, Ukraine moved one step closer to securing visa-free travel to the European Union.
Thats when the European Commission said Ukraine met so-called first phase requirements in passing a number of laws needed to move the process forward.Afterward, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso stated that Ukraine is now moving into the second phase where its capability of implementing a number of visa-related policy measures will be examined.
Adding to the news, EU Ambassador to Ukraine Jan Tombinski said on May 26 that Ukraine is months away from being able to travel freely to the 26 nations that make up the Schengen Zone within the EU by year-end.
The achievement means that Ukraine passed legislation in different fields, including anti-corruption, document security, data protection, asylum, anti-discrimination, as well as other measures.
Even though Ukraine was the first Eastern Partnership country to start visa dialogue with the EU, it still needs to catch up with and follow the success of Moldova whose citizens no longer require visas to travel to the EU.
http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/ukraine-on-track-for-visa-free-travel-so-far-352697.html
For those unfamiliar with the subject Schengen visas entitle holders to travel freely anywhere in the Schengen area for 90 days maximum and then leave the area completely. Pretty much identical to those entering the USA on the visa waiver program. UK and the Irish Republic are not in the Schengen area.
pampango
(24,692 posts)Hope that eventually happens too, but I think the negotiations have been suspended for the time being.
dipsydoodle
(42,239 posts)I'm one of the few people I know who hasn't been there - yet.