France supports visa regime liberalization with Ukraine

France supports the liberalization of the visa regime between the European Union and Ukraine, the ambassador of France to Ukraine Isabelle Dumont has said.

"The French position on this issue is very clear - we are in favor of liberalization of visa regime for Ukraine. You know, that there are discussions in Brussels on this matter aimed at carrying out the visa liberalization and retaining interests," Dumont said during the presentation of a study on the Ukraine-France relations in Kyiv on Tuesday.

According to her, the EU member states have their own concerns about this, as the situation is complex within the EU.

Then, she explained the situation with the delay in issuing visas to the Ukrainian family of football fans who wanted to go to France for Euro 2016.

According to her, people apply for a visa to France, and hundreds of visas are issued to Ukrainian citizens every day. Dumont added that some people just do not act according to the rules. If all the documents are properly submitted, visas are issued without any difficulties. "The way it was reported in the media - was unpleasant, and nobody tried to explain what was happening and why this family was unable to obtain visas when hundreds of people get visas," the French diplomat said.

As earlier reported, a number of civil society activists criticized the Embassy of France against the delay in the issuance of visas to football fans, who are going to support the Ukrainian national team at Euro 2016. Particular outrage among activists provoked the situation on a visa refusal to a 8-year-old Ukrainian football fan Volodymyr Bobenchyko who regularly attends matches of Karpaty football team and the national team of Ukraine.

Later the French Embassy satisfied the appeal of the family fan and opened a visa.