European Commission recommends that EU adopts decision on visa-free travel with Ukraine early in 2016 - report
KYIV. Dec 18 (Interfax) - The European Commission approved on Friday the positive report regarding the implementation by Ukraine of the plan of actions on liberalization of the visa regime with the European Union.
"Based on this assessment and the commitments taken, and given the outcome of the continuous monitoring and reporting carried out since the launch of EU-Ukraine Visa Liberalisation Dialogue in October 2008, the Commission considers that Ukraine meets all the benchmarks set in respect of the four blocks of the second phase of the VLAP," the report available to Interfax says.
The report states that the European Commission will submit the draft EU legislation regarding the necessary changes to the respective Regulation in 2016.
The report describes the progress made by Kyiv in relation to security of documents, integrated border management, migration control, asylum granting, public security and order, and some other areas.
The document also specifies Kyiv's commitments yet to be fulfilled. In particular, the report states that Ukraine undertakes to guarantee the full-scale activities of the Ukrainian National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the anti-corruption prosecutor's office, and the National Agency for Prevention of Corruption in Q1 of 2016, as well as to amend the legislation on management of assets, confiscation and seizure of property. Kyiv also undertakes to ensure the necessary funding of the newly created anti-corruption bodies in 2016.
Under the procedure, the European Commission will submit its recommendation to the European Council and the European Parliament regarding the adoption of a decision to establish the visa-free regime for Ukrainian nationals.