The international conference “Ukraine’s European Perspective and EU Visa Policy: Challenges and Opportunities” was held on November 15 in Donetsk
To intensify the movement towards visa-free travel between the EU and Ukraine, a number of steps must be taken by both sides, states the resolution of the international conference “Ukraine’s European Perspective and EU Visa Policy: Challenges and Opportunities” that was held on November 15 in Donetsk. The event was organized by the Institute for Social Research and Policy Analysis together with the political science department of Donetsk National University (DNU), EU Information Center at DNU, and Center for Political Research with the support of the International Renaissance Foundation’s European Program.
The resolution includes requests to EU consulates and recommendations to the Ukrainian parliament and government.
Recommendations to EU consulates and the European Commission:
– EU and Schengen countries should issue more 3-5 year visas to those who have already been to the EU;
– Official statistics on EU visas should include data on the number of multi-entry and long-term visas;
– The list of additional documents required by consulates to confirm readiness to return to Ukraine should be reduced and standardized;
– Applicants should have the right to choose the place of document submission – consulates or visa centers (pursuant to the EU Visa Code).
Recommendations to the Verkhovna Rada and Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine:
– Amend the law “On the unified state demographic register and documents proving citizenship of Ukraine, identity or special status” to remove discrepancies with the European Convention on Data Protection and other regulations that protect an individual’s right from undue interference;
– Fulfill all the criteria of the first phase of the Action Plan on Visa Liberalization (VLAP) with regard to combating discrimination (Block 4) and corruption (Block 3);
– Work with independent experts to draft relevant laws;
– Conduct an information campaign to increase public support for VLAP-related reforms.
Contacts:
Institute for Social Research and Policy Analysis
(+380 62) 305 02 59
disrpa@gmail.com
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The essential role of the European Program lies in promotion of Ukraine’s European integration, combining external pressure of the EU with the domestic one of the Ukrainian civil society, and thus contributing to promotion of open society values in Ukraine.
