31 MEPs have signed the letter addressed to Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission Federica Mogherini, and profile EU Commissioners. The letter was signed by Petras Austrevicius, Gabrielius Landsbergis, Jacek Saryusz-Wolski, Rebecca Harms, Andrej Plenkovic, and others.
“We are convinced that unconditional granting the visa free regime to Ukraine -- as well as to Georgia, which has also done a considerable progress in the areas concerned -- would reflect the genuine European Union's commitment to the Eastern Partnership which is all the more urgent given the enormous military, political, economic and propaganda pressure on these associated partners of the EU. Moreover, it would reinforce the determination of Ukraine -- as well as of Georgia -- to continue on this path of reforms facilitating a positive democratic change in these countries,” reads the letter.
Read alsoMEPs: Russia must show commitment to Minsk agreementsThe MEPs believe that “due to our joint efforts the Ukrainian and Georgian people will become the beneficiaries of the visa free regime already next year.”
In particular, the MEPS said they “would like to draw the Council´s and the European Commission´s attention to the substantial progress achieved to date by Ukraine in fulfilling the necessary requirements from the visa-liberalisation package.”
They noted two crucial areas -- anti-corruption and anti-discrimination. “This legislation, including the law on the National Agency of Ukraine for Identifying, Tracing and Managing Assets Derived from Corruption, opens a way for introducing a completely new instrument in Ukraine in the area of fight against corruption aimed, first of all, at improving routine life of the ordinary Ukrainian citizens,” they said.
Read alsoOSCE Troika calls for further measures to strengthen ceasefire in Ukraine“In addition to this, the introduction of an anti-discrimination amendment to the Labour Code has proven that the Ukrainian authorities and society support human rights in all its manifestations that is an encouraging symptom of enhancing democracy in Ukraine initiated by the Revolution of Dignity. It should be noted, that these laws were adopted with a strong parliamentary majority which only proves Ukraine´s commitment and a strong political will regarding the Association agenda and reform process,” said the MEPs.
