The European Parliament voted for granting the visa-free regime for Ukraine

The European Parliament adopted the proposal in first reading.

The European Parliament supported the European Commission’s proposal to grant Ukraine visa-free regime. As reports UNIAN correspondent, corresponding voting took place in the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

Voted – 521 MEPs, against 75, abstentions 36.

As you know, the European Commission proposed to remove Ukraine from Annex II of legislative act No. 539/2001 the list of countries whose citizens must have a visa for crossing the external borders and to make it to the list to which these requirements do not apply.

After the vote in the European Parliament the decision shall be confirmed at the meeting of the Committee of permanent representatives of member countries of the European Union (COREPER), to be approved by the EU Council. Further, the text of the legislative act must be signed by the President of the European Parliament and a representative of the EU presidency country (Malta), with subsequent publication in the Official journal of the EU. The decision will enter into force 20 days after publication.

On 5 April the European Parliament hosted a discussion bezveza, during which it was stated that Ukraine in fulfilling the requirements for visa-free regime with the EU “even exceeded expectations” in terms of implementation of reforms.

This was during a debate, said Polish MP from the group “European people’s party” Michal Boni, who spoke on behalf of the deputies of Mary Gabriel (European populists, Bulgaria). He noted that the Rapporteur of the Committee on civil liberties, justice and home Affairs Mariya Gabriel, which is responsible for the liberalization of the visa regime for citizens of Ukraine, allowed him to speak on her behalf.

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