March 19, 2012 from 10.00 a.m. till 11.00 a.m "Europe without barriers" together with Civic Expert Council of foreign affairs of Ukraine will be helding press conference: "Schengen visas could be dangerous: lesson drawn from the case of Ukrainian tourists in Germany"
On March 10, 2012 at 5 o’clock in the morning German police controlled a Ukrainian tour bus, travelled through Poland and Germany. As a result seven Ukrainian tourists were detained and later on expelled from the country despite the fact they hold a valid schengen visas.
This situation shows the existing gaps both in the Schengen law and in practice of enforcement. Controversial interpretation of Schengen rules, exercised by German police during this incident, creates a potential threat to more than 300 thousand Ukrainians – Schengen multiple visa holders.
The final solution of this problem can be possible by amendments to the EU Visa Code, and it will require time and political will. However, the situation requires an immediate response, so it is important to create a judicial precedent that would plainly point out the inaccuracy of German officers.
Participants will provide the analysis of the situation in which 300.000 of Ukrainians possessing multiple Schengen visas could possibly find themselves.
Participants: Iryna Sushko, Head of Civic initiative “Europe without Barriers”, Igor Zdanov, Head of Civic Expert Council of foreign affairs of Ukraine, Oleksandr Sushko, scientific director, Institute for Euro-Atlantic Cooperation, Maryana Kuzio, “Europe without Barriers” project manager.
Address: Kyiv, 8 / 16 B. Khmelnytskogo str. Information Aegncy "Ukrinform".
Contacts : tel: (044) 238-68-43; iryna_sushko@ukr.net. ; maryana.kuzio@gmail.com.
