Interview: Ukraine' s chances for visa-free regime with EU are high, but risks remain -- expert

The recent decision by a European Parliament committee to wave some visa requirements for Ukrainian citizens has signalled that the Eastern European country has a good chance of obtaining free entry to the Schengen area, but challenges on this path still persist.

"I have no doubt that Ukraine will be granted a visa-free regime with the European Union (EU), but it is still too early to say that it would happen very soon," Vladimir Volya, an international relations expert at the Ukrainian Institute for Management and Analysis of the Politics, told Xinhua in a phone interview.

He explained that the travel rules could be relaxed only after comprehensive discussions between the European Commission, the European Council and the European Parliament.

"The fact that the Civil Liberties Committee has adopted a positive decision is not yet the final approval of the visa-free regime. A string of discussions will follow and they will affect the type of the new travel regime and its timelines," the expert said.

Among the risk factors that could delay the visa liberalization process, Volya listed the influx of migrants and refugees to the EU and the decision of the Canadian government not to lift visa requirements for Ukrainians.

"Canada has justified this ruling, saying that Ukraine does not currently meet the criteria for a visa exemption. Therefore, the European deputies may use this precedent and it can also count against Ukraine," the expert said.

He added that concerns over stability inside Ukraine may also contribute to the possible postponement of the visa-free travel.

"Currently, there are no fundamental problems inside Ukraine on the road to the visa-free regime, but if the political situation escalates or any new unrest begins -- it can be a stumbling block," Volya said.

He estimated that Ukraine would be granted the visa exemption, which would allow its citizens to travel to the Schengen area for business, tourism or family purposes in January or February next year.

However, the expert noted that the new travel rules would probably include a special legal mechanism to allow the EU to suspend the visa-free travel in the case of an influx of migrants from Ukraine.

"I believe that the decision on visa liberalization will be taken only after the approval of the so-called 'suspension mechanism,'" Volya said. Endi