EU signs visa liberalization for Ukraine

An official ceremony has taken place in the European Parliament to sign a legislative act under which a visa-free regime with the European Union will be introduced for citizens of Ukraine, according to Yevropeiska Pravda.

The document was signed in Strasbourg by EP President Antonio Tajani and Maltese Minister for Home Affairs and National Security Carmelo Abela.

The ceremony was attended by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and rapporteur on Ukrainian issue, MEP Mariya Gabriel. The President of Ukraine did not sign the document because the regulation was signed as an internal decision of the EU, and not a bilateral document.

After signing, the legislative act should be published in the EU's Official Journal. The visa-free regime will come into force in 20 days. As expected, the visa-free travels for Ukrainian citizens are to come into force on June 11.

As reported, the European Parliament members voted for granting the visa-free regime by the EU to Ukrainians on April 6, 2017, while the Council of the European Union backed this decision on May 11, 2017.