30 January 2013
MEDIA RELEASE
Ukrainian World Congress supports visa liberalisation for citizens of Ukraine
The Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) supports the recommendation made on 22 January 2013 by the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs to introduce amendments to liberalise the visa agreement with Ukraine.
UWC President Eugene Czolij sent a letter today to leaders of the European Union (EU) reaffirming that a visa-free regime for the citizens of Ukraine will foster travel by Ukrainians to Europe, strengthen ties between Europe and the Ukrainian people, and promote Ukraine’s Euro-integration.
In this regard, a survey conducted from 30 March – 4 April 2012 by the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation revealed that: (a) support for EU membership among Ukrainians increases significantly among those Ukrainians who have visited one of the EU member states, the USA or Canada (78% of those who visited vs. 45% of those who have not); while (b) only 17% of Ukrainians have ever in fact visited any of the EU member states, the USA or Canada.
“We are calling upon the European Parliament’s Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee to endorse the amendments to the Agreement between the European Community and Ukraine on the facilitation of the issuance of visasso that they can be adopted by the European Parliament during its March 2013 session,” said Eugene Czolij.
Media Contact: Irene Mycak
Ukrainian World Congress
145 Evans Ave., Suite 207
Toronto, ON
M8Z 5X8 Canada
website: www.ukrainianworldcongress.org
The UWC is the international coordinating body for Ukrainian communities in the diaspora representing the interests of over 20 million Ukrainians. The UWC has member organizations in 33 countries and ties with Ukrainians in 14 additional countries. Founded in 1967 as a non-profit corporation, the UWC was recognized in 2003 by the United Nations Economic and Social Council as a non-governmental organization (NGO) with special consultative status.
