European Commission to request visa-free regime for Ukraine

The European Commission announced on April 20 that it will submit legislation to grant visa-free travel to Ukrainian citizens. The document posted on its website indicated that no additional conditions are needed from the Ukrainian government to introduce the visa-free regime.

“In its sixth and final progress report adopted on Dec. 18, 2015, the Commission considered that Ukraine had made the necessary progress and had undertaken all the required reforms to ensure effective and sustainable achievement of the remaining benchmarks,” the document said, adding that the Commission will submit amendments to regulations that will include Ukraine in its list of visa-free countries.

Ukraine’s visa-free regime with the EU could be launched this summer, said on April 19 Ivanna Klympush-Tsyntsadze, the vice prime minister for European and Euro-Atlantic integration. The European Parliament still has to approve the measure, she noted.

Zenon Zawada: For many Ukrainians, this is the most relevant and tangible political development under consideration. The economy is in disastrous shape and hundreds of thousands will inevitably travel to the EU for work, even for a few months, or to conduct business more easily.

The visa-free regime would be an even bigger boon for the government, as it will serve as a valve to release the pent up resentment in society and potential for protest. It will most affect active citizens and skilled workers, many of whom will choose to travel and work in the EU rather than engage in protest activity. It will enable the current government to resist reforms for a longer period.

The Dutch referendum demonstrated that EU citizens are exhausted from migrants entering their countries. We believe such a measure would be rejected if put to a popular vote throughout EU countries. Yet the European Parliament is led by centrist, establishment parties, which are likely to support the measure in an attempt to keep Ukraine in the EU orbit. The more Ukrainians are exposed to the EU, the more they will support integration, the logic goes.