European politicians have not yet passed their test on granting a visa-free regime to Ukraine.
As stated by the State Secretary of the Netherlands, Klaas Dijkhoff, whose country currently chairs the Council of the European Union, despite the fact that Ukraine has fully complied with all requirements for granting a visa-free regime with the Schengen area, Europe is not yet ready to take a corresponding decision. According to foreign media, the process of visa abolition for Ukraine and Georgia is currently being hindered mainly by three EU countries – Germany, France and Italy.
In particular, Berlin insists that visa abolition is possible only after the adoption in the European Union of new rules on suspending or lifting visa-free regimes for third countries. This mechanism should apply to all countries, but discussions on this issue have intensified after Ukraine, Georgia, Turkey and Kosovo acquired real prospects for a visa-free regime with the EU.
Consequently, if EU member states and the European Parliament fail to complete the legislative procedures for visa abolition for Ukrainians and Georgians by the end of July, then a return to this issue will be possible only in the autumn – after the end of the summer break in the European political season.
Recall that the European Commission back in April 2016 submitted to the EU Council and the European Parliament a proposal to include Ukraine in the list of countries whose citizens do not need visas for short-term (up to 90 days) trips to Schengen countries. However, many people still doubt and are skeptical about the possibility of opening the borders of European countries to Ukrainians.
As the website 24tv.ua, which publishes news of Ukraine on Channel 24, notes, many myths have emerged around the issue of a visa-free regime. Therefore, the TV channel published for its readers a test «Without a visa to the EU: myths and reality», which helps to understand the intricacies of the visa-free regime.
24tv.ua notes that even in the case of the introduction of a visa-free regime with Schengen area countries, Ukrainians will not be able to freely go to Europe for work – for this they will still have to apply for work visas. The visa-free regime involves exclusively short-term trips to Schengen countries (up to 90 days), having as their purpose only tourism and short-term study. To travel, they will also need to obtain a new biometric passport (including for children), a guarantee letter or invitation, as well as medical insurance.