One more diplomatic victory of Ukraine - The European Parliament approves Ukraine visa waiver

[Athanasiy]

Ukrainian citizens will be exempted from EU short-stay visa requirements, after Parliament endorsed an informal deal with the Council on Thursday.

Under the new law, Ukrainians who hold a biometric passport will be able to enter the EU without a visa for 90 days in any 180-day period, for tourism, to visit relatives or friends, or for business purposes, but not to work. The exemption applies to all EU countries, except Ireland and the UK, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

“Ukraine has achieved all the benchmarks, so the visa requirement should be lifted”, noted rapporteur for the proposal Mariya Gabriel (EPP, BG), adding that the visa waiver will be “another very strong message that Ukraine is a key partner for the European Union in the Eastern Partnership”.

The legislation, approved by 521 votes to 75 with 36 abstentions, still needs to be formally adopted by the Council of Ministers. It is likely to enter into force in June, 20 days after it is published in the EU Official Journal.

Before exempting Ukrainians from visa requirements, the EU strengthened the visa waiver suspension mechanism, to allow visas to be reintroduced more easily in exceptional cases.
europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/20170329IPR69065/parliament-approves-ukraine-visa-waiver

 

[Vouthon]

I was very glad to hear this!

Ukrainians sacrificed their lives in the Maidan so that their country could successfully negotiate an association agreement with the EU and elect a pro-European government. Ever since, they have had to endure invasion in the East and destabilization at the hands of Russia, as well as an entire region of Ukraine being militarily annexed.

It is important that members of the European Parliament, as the democratically elected representatives of European citizens, show their support for Ukraine.

 

[Athanasiy]

Starting from June 11, Ukrainians with biometric passports can travel without visas to the EU and Schengen countries. Yess!!! It is done!
PRAISE THE LORD!!!
:thumbsup:

 

[Ridgerunner]

EU ought to allow them to work in the EU as well. I don’t see why they did not. I imagine that would be of real help to the Ukrainian economy.

 

[Athanasiy]

EU ought to allow them to work in the EU as well. I don’t see why they did not. I imagine that would be of real help to the Ukrainian economy.

I agree completely!
For the time being you can only travel, but it gradually goes to the fact that in a few years it will be possible to work.
The tourism to Beauty-Europe is an education, new perspectives will open up.
More and more young people of Donbass and Crimea are not against declaring their Ukrainian identity.
Many of them were simply hostages of Russian propaganda.
What has the Crimea got now?
Instead of beautiful budget resort competing with European reasorts, Сrimea is probably more open for different kinds of Russian military services employees.
What got the Donbass and Lugansk?
The Donetsk stadium of quarter finalist of the Champions League overgrown with weeds and there it is possible to graze cows now.
Life in the so-called republics is close to Khrushchev’s or even Stalin’s times.
Over time, further rapprochement with Europe will lead Ukraine to victory, а diplomatic victory that works much more than a militaristic victory.
In my opinion the military way is not a persuasion for the departed regions, the economic reforms within the country and more rights for Ukrainian citizens in the European community- these are the arguments and persuasions for the departed regions.