Sixth Progress Report on the Implementation by Ukraine of the Action Plan on Visa Liberalisation

REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL AND THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

The EU-Ukraine Visa Liberalisation Dialogue was launched in October 2008.

In November 2010, the European Commission presented the Ukrainian Government with an action plan on visa liberalisation (VLAP).

The VLAP sets a series of precise benchmarks for four ‘blocks’1 of technically relevant issues, with a view to adopting a legislative, policy and institutional framework (phase 1) and ensuring its effective and sustainable implementation (phase 2).

The benchmarks need to be met before Ukrainian nationals holding biometric passports can enter the Schengen zone for short stays without the need for a visa.

In September 2011, the Commission adopted its first progress report on Ukraine's implementation of the VLAP3 and made several recommendations for completing the first (legislative and planning) phase.

The Commission published its second progress report on 9 February 2012, and the third on 15 November 2013.

Following the Commission’s fourth report (27 May 2014)4 and its endorsement by the Council (23 June 2014), Ukraine was officially in the second phase of the action plan where an assessment was made regarding sustainable implementation of the legislative and policy framework.

The Commission adopted the fifth progress report on Ukraine’s implementation of the VLAP on 8 May 20155 .

The report stated that the progress achieved by the Ukrainian authorities in the implementation of the second phase of the VLAP was noteworthy.

In line with the methodology outlined in the VLAP, the Commission organised on-site evaluations involving experts from EU Member States.

The report was accompanied by an assessment of the potential migratory and security impacts of future visa liberalisation for Ukrainian citizens travelling to the EU.

The sixth report is the second progress report on Ukraine’s implementation of the second phase of the VLAP. It considers how effectively and sustainably the Ukrainian authorities have implemented the second-phase benchmarks, in line with the recommendations issued in the Commission’s fifth report. This report does not elaborate on those benchmarks that were considered as already achieved in the last report because monitoring has demonstrated that they are continuing to be fulfilled. These benchmarks are: judicial cooperation in criminal matters, conditions and procedures for the issuance of travel and identity documents. 

Sixth Progress Report on the Implementation by Ukraine of the Action Plan on Visa Liberalisation (PDF)