Off the wire
• 2nd Ld: China, Gambia resume diplomatic ties  • Ding Junhui falls on first day of Chinese Billiard World Championship  • China Focus: China says Lancang-Mekong Cooperation to bridge development gaps within ASEAN  • Spotlight: Racially insensitive joke at Oscar show reveals deeper diversity woes  • Chinese vice premier meets UNFPA executive director  • China, Gambia agree energy production deal to end power woes  • New Slovak parliament to hold inaugural session on March 23  • Full Text: Report on the Work of the Government (14)  • China Focus: China's favorite retro cola makes comeback  • Shakespeare's Henry V gets dedicated Chinese translation  
You are here: 　 Home

EU to launch Ukraine Visa-Free Process in April

Xinhua, March 17, 2016 Adjust font size:

The European Union (EU) will launch the process for approving Ukraine's visa-free access to the bloc in April, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said on Thursday.

Juncker made the announcement at a joint press conference following a working breakfast with European Council President Donald Tusk, and Petro Poroshenko, president of Ukraine.

The process has been delayed for a few weeks as the Ukrainian government failed to meet several final key criteria for visa-free travel to the EU.

"Ukraine, in the last days and hours, has undertaken huge reforms, mainly as far as the adoption of the e-declarations law is concerned or as far as the appointment of the members of the Anti-corruption Agency is concerned," Juncker said, "these steps taken by Ukraine will allow us as the Commission to make a proposal for visa liberalization in April."

Poroshenko welcomed the EU's decision, as it takes Kiev a step closer to one of its key political goals.

The former Soviet country had spent years negotiating a free travel agreement with the EU. However, the anti-corruption agency required by the EU has not been set up until hours before the meeting.

"During the last months we have managed to approve a revolutionary legislation on e-declaration, recovery, special confiscation and prevention of the corruption," he briefed the positive steps Ukraine has taken to introduce reforms.

"As a consequence we have achieved the criteria for the VISA liberalization with the EU," he said.

"I am also happy to note that further steps have been taken on visa liberalization," Tusk said to the press.

"Following the positive report by the Commission in December, Ukraine has taken the key steps in meeting its outstanding commitments. I trust it will soon be possible to take the next steps towards finalizing this process," he added.

If the process goes well, the 28 member states of the EU will then vote for the proposal on a session scheduled on June 9 and 10. Endit