Ukrainian president expects EU visa-free deal on Friday
Brussels (dpa) -- Ukraine will receive the go-ahead Friday for its citizens to be granted visa-free travel to the European Union, the country's president, Petro Poroshenko, said Thursday.
Kiev has long sought an end to visa requirements for Ukrainian visitors to the 28-member bloc, but was told it must first undertake a catalogue of reforms, ranging from progress on the rule of law to bringing travel documents in line with EU standards.
The European Commission had been expected to give the green light on Tuesday, but delayed a report on Ukraine's progress because of final issues that still needed to be worked out, EU sources said on condition of anonymity.
The issue was discussed at a meeting late Wednesday between Poroshenko, EU President Donald Tusk and commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. On Thursday, the Ukrainian president indicated that all remaining issues had been ironed out.
"Tomorrow we will have a decision that Ukraine has fulfilled all the requirements necessary for [the] visa free travel regime," Poroshenko said during a press conference in Brussels with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
"I have the feeling that our opinion will be very positive," Juncker added, in separate remarks to the press.
However, EU member states also have to weigh in on the matter.
Poroshenko expressed hope that EU governments would be presented with draft legislation "in the first half of 2016."
This year's surge in migration into Europe has made some member states wary of granting more people unfettered access to the bloc.
There are also concerns that Ukraine's reform agenda is lagging, as Kiev grapples with the pro-Moscow insurgency in the east of the country. But Poroshenko said the government was committed to implementing the measures demanded by Brussels.
"Ukraine will continue its systemic reform in the area of justice and... internal affairs and the operation of anti-corruption," he pledged.
Putin On Ukraine -- Same Question, Different Answer
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