Reforms to the visa regime between the European Union and Ukraine will send a clear signal to its citizens that Europe is committed to its partnership with Ukraine, Pawel Kowal MEP, ECR draftsman of an opinion on the topic, said today after his opinion was widely supported by the Foreign Affairs committee.

Reforms to the visa regime between the European Union and Ukraine will send a clear signal to its citizens that Europe is committed to its partnership with Ukraine, Pawel Kowal MEP, ECR draftsman of an opinion on the topic, said today after his opinion was widely supported by the Foreign Affairs committee.

The reforms simplify the requirements for documents to be presented by certain visa applicants, and it expands the category of persons who can benefit from a 1-year of a 5-year multiple-entry visa.

The new categories covered by the amended agreement include representatives of civil society organisations travelling regularly to Member States for the purposes of educational training or conferences, participants in cross-border cooperation programmes funded by the EU, students and post-graduate students, representatives of religious communities, people participating for professional reasons in conferences or seminars organised on EU territory; also, persons who need to come regularly to the EU for medical reasons and persons accompanying them.

Mr Kowal, a member of the ‘Poland Comes First’ Party, said:

“This new visa regime shows clearly the EU’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with Ukraine. The best way of furthering our ties is through people-to-people links and I believe this proposal will build stronger ties that will benefit us all.”