Within the celebration of Day of Europe in Ukraine, public initiative “Europe without Barriers” conducted public debates and public action “Removing visa barriers together! Europe is our home!”supported by the International Renaissance Foundation. The Head of EU Delegation to Ukraine Jose Manuel Pinto Teixeira, the Director of the EU Department of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Vasyl Filipchuk, the Member of European Parliament Paweł Zalewski, ambassadors and representatives of the EU embassies, Ukrainian experts and analysts participated in public debates.
Nadya Kaidanovych| http://eu.prostir.ua
Oleksandr Sushko, the leading expert of PI "Europe without Barriers", said in his opening speech that EWB launches an information campaign aimed to explain the citizens of Ukraine what the visa-free regime is, what rights it gives and what it doesn’t. The expert said that visa-free regime is often perceived by Ukrainians as absolute freedom of movement and opportunity to work in the EU countries without the necessity to obtain individual permits. In fact, said Sushko, visa requirements are only the first step towards total freedom of movement and gives the right for short-term trips to the EU countries without preliminary visa receiving. That’s why, according to the analysts’ words, it is important to explain Ukrainian citizens all the features of visa-free regime.
EU Ambassador to Ukraine Jose Manuel Pinto Teixeira expressed confidence that one day the EU aims to see Ukraine as a state which fully meets all the requirements needed for visa-free regime with the EU. At the same time it’s indisputable that the visa regime should not negatively affect the security issues, because the issue of Ukrainian border control is still quite problematic, sair the Head of EU Delegation to Ukraine. The documents security issues also deserve special attention. However, there have been significant developments in the visa liberalisation process between Ukraine and the EU in recent years, the Ambassador said.
The member of the European Parliament from Poland Pawel Zalewski said that they consider Ukraine as a future member of the European Union. According to MEP, the introduction of visa-free regime would increase the number of travelling by Ukrainian citizens to EU countries and by the EU citizens to Ukraine because the Europeans will be able to learn more about the beauty of Ukraine. In this case, as noted by Mr. Zalewski, EU countries should assess Ukraine differently than other neighbouring states. Although, it does not mean that there is no need to fulfil the obligations necessary for the implementation of visa-free regime by Ukraine.
Vasyl Filipchuk, the Director of the EU Department of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine thanked the Ukrainian citizens for participation in celebrating of the Day of Europe, because it is the day when the European idea unites the citizens of Ukraine, he said. Today, according to officials, the visa regime with the EU is unfair for Ukrainians and an obstacle rather for ordinary citizens, but not for criminals.
The Ambassador of Finland to Ukraine Christer Michelsson expressed his pleasure that over the past 4 years the discussion on relations between Ukraine and the EU in the context of visa liberalisation regime came into practical level. He said that the embassy of Finland in Ukraine issues about 12 thousand visas, while in Russia its about 1 million visas. So when we talk about visa issues, the Embassy of Finland has a very practical and direct approach and tries to do anything to make the trip through Finland to the EU or a trip to Finland as simply as possible. Over the past four years, there have been significant developments in the visa liberalisation issue. However, there is a necessity to make a lot of practical tasks to provide the freedom of movement within Europe, Mr K. Michelsson said.
The director of the Ukrainian Institute for Public Policy Viktor Chumak said that such public debates allow Ukrainian citizens to feel like they belong to a country’s development. Despite the significant number of existing problems, he is optimistic in future visa liberalisation regime with the European Union.
The representatives of La Strada-Ukraine Olga Kalashnyk and Lyudmyla Kovalchuk also participated in public debates. They shared their history on issuing visas. According to experts, they couldn’t participate in international events of their organization in Italy and Germany twice, because the host organization, the International Association "La Strada", is registered in the Netherlands. Such situations suggest that the conditions of visa receiving to EU by the citizens of Ukraine became even more stringent in certain respects, the experts said.
Within the celebration of Day of Europe in Ukraine public initiative “Europe without Barriers” conducted an information campaign: "Choose a better life! " Live without barriers " and "No visa regime! Europe is our home” aimed to explain the benefits and features of visa-free regime in relations with the EU to Ukrainian citizens.
EWB prepared and distributed posters and postcards, with the aim of advocacy of freedom of movement throughout the Europe, that reflect the idea of public campaign for visa liberalisation and the necessity of reforms that will allow our country to come closer to visa-free regime with the EU.
