{"id":381963,"date":"2018-06-11T11:03:24","date_gmt":"2018-06-11T08:03:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uatv.ua\/first-anniversary-ukraine-eu-visa-free-regime\/"},"modified":"2018-06-11T11:03:24","modified_gmt":"2018-06-11T08:03:24","slug":"first-anniversary-ukraine-eu-visa-free-regime","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uatv.ua\/en\/first-anniversary-ukraine-eu-visa-free-regime\/","title":{"rendered":"First Anniversary of Ukraine-EU Visa-Free Regime"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Photo from Ukrinform<\/h5>\n

 <\/p>\n

Today, on June 11, Ukraine marks the first anniversary of visa-free travel to the European Union.<\/p>\n

President Petro Poroshenko congratulated Ukrainian citizens on this occassion.<\/p>\n

“In Ukraine, a visa-free regime with EU countries has been in force for exactly one year. What millions of Ukrainians dreamed about was turned into reality. I am sure that by joint efforts we will build a dreamy future for Ukraine, so that Ukrainian people and the Ukrainian state will return to the family of European nations as soon as possible,” Poroshenko wrote on Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/petroporoshenko\/videos\/1292220144245708\/<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

According to the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service<\/a>, over the past year, Ukrainians used the visa-free regime 555 thousand times.\u00a0This is the number of entries, not people, because it is extremely difficult to calculate the exact number of travelers.<\/p>\n

Ukrainians have crossed the EU member states’ borders 20.3 million times this past year. That is an increase from 17.7 million the year before.<\/p>\n

Ukrainians with biometric passports can travel to 26 EU countries without visas and four other non-EU countries,\u00a0Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, which are members of the Schengen Area. People\u00a0can stay in the territory of the EU and Schengen Area for up to 90 days over a 180 day period, for the purpose of tourism, business or visiting family.<\/p>\n

Poland is the only country, whose legislation stipulates that a non-EU citizen crossing the border within the visa-free regime has the right to be employed in the country, if they find a job. In this case, a Ukrainian can be issued additional documents. That is, within the framework of the visa-free regime, Ukrainians can come to Poland, find a job and get the necessary documents for employment.<\/p>\n

The visa waiver agreement between Ukraine and the EU was signed by Poroshenko and the European Parliament President Antonio Tajani in Strasbourg, France, on May 17, 2017. The deal came into effect on June 11, 2017.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Photo from Ukrinform<\/h5>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ukraine’s path towards visa-free travel was long and difficult and dates back to its proclamation of independence in 1991, when the EU in its special declaration recognized Ukraine as a democratic country and a partner in international relations. On June 14, 1994, the EU-Ukraine Partnership and Cooperation Agreement was signed. It was aimed at developing economic cooperation and political dialog and became the main document in defining relations with the EU. On March 1, 1998, the document came into force, and Ukraine for the first time officially declared its intention to become an EU associate member.<\/p>\n

In 2010, the European Parliament adopted a resolution recognizing Ukraine\u2019s right to join the EU and granted the European Commission a mandate to elaborate on visa-free travels between Ukraine and the EU member countries.\u00a0In April 2011, the President of Ukraine approved the National Plan for Implementation of the Visa Liberalization Action Plan which consisted of two parts. The first stage provided for the creation of the appropriate regulatory framework, which included adopting a law on biometric passports, and defining the legal status of foreigners, stateless persons and refugees.<\/p>\n

The EU-Ukraine Association Agreement was expected to be signed at the Vilnius Summit in the fall of 2013. However, the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers issued an order to suspend the process of signing the agreement. It later became known that the Russian President Vladimir Putin persuaded the then President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych not to sign the agreement.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Photo from Ukfrinform<\/h5>\n

 <\/p>\n

The decision of the country’s government led to the Euromaidan protests and the confrontation between the authorities and the people in November 2013. After Yanukovych fled and the state leadership was re-elected, cooperation with the EU resumed.<\/p>\n