Ukraine and the European Union have signed an agreement to simplify the visa regime to the EU, said Foreign Minister Konstyantyn Hryshchenko, according to KW. According to this agreement, additions have been made to the existing agreement on visa facilitation that expands the list of categories that may qualify for a visa to the EU under a simplified procedure. In addition, from now on greater transparency of the process of obtaining visas will be ensured with a guarantee of the right of direct visa application submission to the embassies and consulates of EU member states (i.e. without the involvement of intermediaries, such as visa agencies).
The new agreement also addresses the issue of multi-entry and long-term visas (for 1 year and 5 years instead of up to 1 year and up to 5 years) and improves the procedures for obtaining visas for journalists (editors can submit applications instead of the hosting side) and for members of their teams (operators, engineers, etc.), the foreign minister said. The agreement was the subject of harsh debate in the EU, with some politicians calling on Brussels not to sign the agreement because of the political situation in Ukraine, even after the European Commission recommended to the Council of the European Union to sign, KW wrote in the latest issue.
