After making changes to the agreement on the facilitation of visa issuance, the Ukrainians will be able to apply for visas directly to the diplomatic missions or consulates, foreign minister of Ukraine Leonid Kozhara told a briefing, ForUm correspondent reports.
"We are pleased to note that the European Parliament welcomed the entry into force of the so-called enhanced agreement on the visa regime liberalization. This agreement replaces the previous one and significantly expands the range of persons, to whom visas will be issued in the European Union, introduces multiple-entry visas for citizens and simplifies procedure for obtaining Schengen visas," the minister said.
According to the foreign minister, the agreement provides for several benefits for Ukrainians traveling to the EU, in particular, optimizing the number of documents, which must be submitted to the embassy.
However, the head of the Foreign Ministry noted that the agreement shall enter into force only after it is ratified by the Foreign Affairs Council. According to him, it is likely to happen in early May of this year.
In addition, Kozhara welcomed the decision to continue the EU Monitoring Mission, headed by the former chairman of the European Parliament Pat Cox and former Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski.
"The Ukrainian party welcomes today's decision ... We believe that this mission is an important communicator between the Ukrainian government and European institutions," the minister said.
According to Kozhara, the extension of the mandate of the mission until September of this year will contribute to a fuller awareness of Europe about the situation in Ukraine.
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