European Commission: Ukraine fulfills only two clauses of visa liberalization plan

The European Commission has noted that despite the significant progress in the implementation of the visa liberalization action plan by Kyiv, much has not been done.

In the fifth progress report on the implementation by Ukraine of the action plan on visa liberalization published on Friday, the Commission said that only the benchmark on judicial cooperation in criminal matters and that on the production of biometric passports in Ukraine are deemed to be achieved.

All the other benchmarks are considered either almost achieved or partially achieved.

In particular, Kyiv has only partially met the requirements set in the clause dealing with asylum seekers. The European Commission recommends that the Ukrainian authorities continue providing primary legal aid to persons applying for international protection, establish rules on the status, rights and obligations of those foreigners who cannot be returned, but who are not entitled to international protection, provide the necessary funds for sustainable improvement of temporary accommodation centers for people seeking international protection and for beneficiaries of international protection. The amount provided for food for refugees at the moment is too low – UAH 12 per person, per day, the report said.

According to the report, the benchmark for preventing and fighting organized crime, terrorism, human trafficking and corruption is deemed to be only partially achieved but with good prospects for further progress.

"Given the exceptional circumstances and the internal and external challenges it faces, the progress achieved by Ukraine under the four blocks of the VLAP (visa liberalization action plan) has been noteworthy," the report reads.

In view of the considerable progress made in recent months, the Commission is ready to shorten the period until the next report, provided that continued quick progress is made.