by Olha Lytvyn, Melike Koca, Metodi Iliev
Ukrainian prime minister Arsenii Yatsenyuk announced Friday that Ukraine has implemented 97% of the EU request in order to establish visa-free regime. The final decision concerning Ukrainian visa status is expected to be made by European Commission till December 15th.
According to Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko good news from Brussels are to be expected, since the country has managed to meet almost 100% of the criteria issued by the EU.
The overcoming of corruption in Ukraine is seen by EU as an issue of the outmost importance. The government has started a war on corruption by passing the vital reforms such as establishing effective tools for work of the anti – corruption prosecutor’s office and the anti – corruption bureau. Besides that, two laws concerning confiscation of illegally-acquired property were successfully implemented.
The report of the European Commission may allow Ukrainian citizens staying in the EU for 3 months during 6 months period starting from mid-2016.
“In November 2013, Ukraine firmly declared its European choice with millions of people who came to the European Maidan” said the president. And Ukraine has been conducting European reforms in order to change and become a “true European state”. The first step was made with the signature of the Association Agreement between the Ukraine and the EU in June 2014.