UWC welcomes liberalization of visa agreement with Ukraine

23 April 2013

 

MEDIA RELEASE

 

UWC welcomes liberalization of visa agreement with Ukraine

 

The Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) welcomes the ratification by the European Parliament on 18 April 2013 of the amendments to the Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine on the facilitation of the issuance of visas.

 

The Ukrainian World Congress has repeatedly called for the EU to adopt a visa-free regime for the citizens of Ukraine in order to foster travel by Ukrainians to Europe, enhance ties between Europe and the Ukrainian people, and promote Ukraine’s Euro-integration.

 

The European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs, in its Opinion on the amended Agreement, stated that it is also “… a clear signal towards the Ukrainian citizens that the EU is seriously committed to strengthen its partnership with the Ukrainian society and to further develop and facilitate people-to-people contacts, in line with the renewed European Neighbourhood Policy.”

 

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.