‘It is important to understand that what is happening is not an intention to make life harder for Ukrainian travelers - we know how important this issue is for many people in Ukraine. But this is just the case when some of our new member states, joining the Schengen area, will assume the role of the zone, which will affect the bilateral agreements that Ukraine has... Therefore, we proposed to start negotiations on visa facilitation as soon as possible,’ she said.
The European Commission representative recalled that visa facilitation implies ‘finding ways to ease and simplify obtaining a visa, which will be necessary for the Schengen area and the EU.’ ‘This will mean that a visa for a trip to Poland or Lithuania will also allow travel to any EU state. This is good news, of course,’ she emphasized.
Answering a question about a possible date for canceling such agreements, Emma Udwin noted that everything depends on the timing of the new member states' accession to Schengen. ‘We want to complete the agreements on accession to Schengen, possibly by the end of next year - in 2007, not earlier,’ she said.
Speaking about the current problems in the negotiations between Ukraine and the EU on the agreement on visa facilitation and readmission, the European Commission representative drew attention to the fact that negotiations on readmission are taking longer than those on visa facilitation. At the same time, she noted that the negotiations are ‘progressing’.
Commenting on the Ukrainian side's desire to separate in time the agreements on visa facilitation and readmission, Emma Udwin stated that these documents ‘must be linked.’ ‘Not because we are talking about Ukraine - this is the norm for everyone, this is standard EU practice,’ said the European Commission representative. According to her, currently the ‘discussion on readmission is focused on some details of the agreement on travel documents and time frames.’ ‘I do not think this will become a big problem in the discussion, and certainly we want to find a solution that will be acceptable to both sides. I think we will see an acceleration of progress,’ emphasized E. Udwin, adding: ‘Obviously, we are trying to reach an agreement with Ukraine as quickly as possible. We are somewhat optimistic and hope that the negotiations will end very soon.’ //Interfax-Ukraine
EU raised visa prices, but this does not apply to Ukrainians
Interior ministers of EU member states approved an increase in visa prices from the current €35 to €60 (for transit visas and visas for up to three months). The new price will take effect from the beginning of 2007. This tariff will not apply in Britain, Ireland, and Denmark, which set their own visa prices.
The price increase does not apply to Russia, Ukraine, and the Western Balkan countries. Negotiations with them will be held within a year. Children under 6, schoolchildren, and exchange students will not need visas. Later, EU member states will hold negotiations on possible visa fee benefits for citizens of countries neighboring the EU.
The proposal was put forward by the French government and was due to the introduction of a new border security technology that requires additional funds. Greece, Hungary, and Sweden voted against the increase in visa prices. //Reuters