European Parliament on Thursday supported easing travel rules for Ukrainians, driving on a Western integration viewed with great suspicion by Moscow.
Ukraine has been the scene of the worst confrontation between Russia and the West in Europe since the Cold War with Moscow annexing Crimea from Kiev in 2014 and backing separatist rebels in the east of the country.
The West has sided with Ukraine, where Russia intervened after a Moscow-allied president was toppled by street protests demanding an end to corruption and closer EU ties. Russia denies direct military involvement in its southern neighbour.
European lawmakers voted 521 to 75 to grant Ukrainians holding biometric passports the right to visit for up to 90 days for tourism, business or visiting relatives and friends.
"Great day for the people of Europe and Ukraine," said Anna Maria Corazza Bildt, a Swedish member of the Parliament.
The visa waiver, which does not give Ukrainians the right to work in the EU, is expected to take effect this summer.
The pro-Western government in Kiev is moving closer to the EU and NATO. But a weak economy and endemic corruption would hinder any move to accession, and some states would be unwilling to further anger Ukraine's Soviet-era ruler, Russia, by incorporating it into an alliance it views as hostile.
The waiver covers all EU states except Ireland and Britain, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland - not in the EU but members of Europe's free-travel Schengen zone.
Kiev's Europe Minister Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze said the vote on Thursday was "a strong signal to the aggressor that Ukraine is on its way back to the European family."
Three years of fighting in Ukraine's industrial east killed more than 10,000 people.
While the heaviest battles have died down, the conflict is still simmering and peace efforts are stalled amid mutual recriminations by Kiev, EU and NATO on the one side, and Russia and the rebels on the other.
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Showing posts with label European Parliament. Show all posts
Showing posts with label European Parliament. Show all posts
Wednesday, 12 April 2017
Friday, 10 March 2017
EUROPE: European Parliament Wants U.S. Citizens To Apply For Visas Before Traveling To Europe
The European Parliament wants U.S. citizens to have to apply for visas before traveling to Europe this summer.
The issue has developed due to an ongoing dispute over U.S. treatment of citizens from Eastern European countries such as Poland, Bulgaria and Romania, who are part of the EU but who are not allowed visa-free travel to the U.S. through the visa-waiver program.
The European Parliament is pressuring the EU executive to force Americans to apply for visas in retaliation.
Forcing Americans to obtain visas would definitely put a dent in Europe’s tourism industry especially during the busy summer season, which is why the European Commission says it is pursuing a resolution through diplomatic channels.
On June 15, EU Commission officials will meet with the U.S. to discuss the issue.
"We will report on further progress made before the end of June and continue to work closely with both the European Parliament and the Council," a Commission spokeswoman said, referring to the council which groups the governments of the 28 EU member states.
In the meantime, negotiations are taking place to resolve the issue, allowing for full “visa reciprocity,” an official said.
While European lawmakers voted with a show of hands to impose restrictive measures on American travelers, they have little power.
The issue has developed due to an ongoing dispute over U.S. treatment of citizens from Eastern European countries such as Poland, Bulgaria and Romania, who are part of the EU but who are not allowed visa-free travel to the U.S. through the visa-waiver program.
The European Parliament is pressuring the EU executive to force Americans to apply for visas in retaliation.
Forcing Americans to obtain visas would definitely put a dent in Europe’s tourism industry especially during the busy summer season, which is why the European Commission says it is pursuing a resolution through diplomatic channels.
On June 15, EU Commission officials will meet with the U.S. to discuss the issue.
"We will report on further progress made before the end of June and continue to work closely with both the European Parliament and the Council," a Commission spokeswoman said, referring to the council which groups the governments of the 28 EU member states.
In the meantime, negotiations are taking place to resolve the issue, allowing for full “visa reciprocity,” an official said.
While European lawmakers voted with a show of hands to impose restrictive measures on American travelers, they have little power.
Saturday, 4 March 2017
European Parliament Votes To Discontinue Visa Free Travel For Americans
European Parliament has voted to end visa-free travel for Americans within the EU.
It comes after the US failed to agree visa-free travel for citizens of five EU countries – Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Poland and Romania – as part of a reciprocity agreement. US citizens can normally travel to all countries in the bloc without a visa.
The vote urges the revocation of the scheme within two months, meaning Americans will have to apply for extra documents for 12 months after the European Commission implements a “delegated act” to bring the change into effect.
The Commission discovered three years ago that the US was not meeting its obligations under the reciprocity agreement but has not yet taken any legal action. The latest vote, prepared by the civil liberties committee and approved by a plenary session of parliament, gives the Commission two months to act before MEPs can consider action in the European Court of Justice.
Australia, Brunei, Japan and Canada were also failing in their obligations, but all four have lifted, or are soon to lift, any visa restrictions on travel for EU citizens.
The Commission is legally obliged to act to suspend the visa waiver for Americans, but the European Parliament or the Council of the European Union have the chance to object to the “delegated act” it uses to do so.
In December, MEPs pressed for the move in order to “encourage” Washington to play its part, according to a statement by the parliament.
But Migration Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos warned of “consequences”, including potential “retaliation” and a drop in visitor numbers precipitating substantial losses for the continent’s tourism industry.
Just days ago the Council said it would liberalise the visa regime for citizens of Georgia travelling into the EU.
Georgians can now, subject to final approval of the regulation, stay in any EU country for 90 days in any period of 180 days without needing a visa.
Carmelo Abela, Malta’s minister for national security, said: “This agreement will bring the people of Georgia and the EU closer together and will strengthen tourism and business ties. It follows the completion of the necessary reforms by Georgia, addressing document security, border management, migration and asylum.”
Last month it was reported that the EU was considering the adoption of a US-style electronic travel permit scheme – a move that could create a new administrative hurdle for British tourists after Brexit.
Immigration minister Robert Goodwill told Parliament the EU was discussing the possibility of introducing a version of America’s Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA).
Currently foreign travellers must pay a fee of $14 (£11) when they complete ESTA, an automated online system that determines their eligibility to travel to the US.
“British people are now used to the US ESTA scheme and, therefore, we view with interest how the European scheme might develop and what similarities, and differences, there may be to the US scheme,” Mr Goodwill said.
“This type of scheme is generally there to help enhance security. To get to know as much as possible about the people who are intending to travel.
“It isn’t just flights, it could be people using ferries, or other border crossings into the European Union.”
Alan Brown, an SNP member of the European Scrutiny Committee, pointed out that Leave advocates in the referendum campaign had said there would be no need for visa-like travel schemes after Brexit.
It comes after the US failed to agree visa-free travel for citizens of five EU countries – Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Poland and Romania – as part of a reciprocity agreement. US citizens can normally travel to all countries in the bloc without a visa.
The vote urges the revocation of the scheme within two months, meaning Americans will have to apply for extra documents for 12 months after the European Commission implements a “delegated act” to bring the change into effect.
The Commission discovered three years ago that the US was not meeting its obligations under the reciprocity agreement but has not yet taken any legal action. The latest vote, prepared by the civil liberties committee and approved by a plenary session of parliament, gives the Commission two months to act before MEPs can consider action in the European Court of Justice.
Australia, Brunei, Japan and Canada were also failing in their obligations, but all four have lifted, or are soon to lift, any visa restrictions on travel for EU citizens.
The Commission is legally obliged to act to suspend the visa waiver for Americans, but the European Parliament or the Council of the European Union have the chance to object to the “delegated act” it uses to do so.
In December, MEPs pressed for the move in order to “encourage” Washington to play its part, according to a statement by the parliament.
But Migration Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos warned of “consequences”, including potential “retaliation” and a drop in visitor numbers precipitating substantial losses for the continent’s tourism industry.
Just days ago the Council said it would liberalise the visa regime for citizens of Georgia travelling into the EU.
Georgians can now, subject to final approval of the regulation, stay in any EU country for 90 days in any period of 180 days without needing a visa.
Carmelo Abela, Malta’s minister for national security, said: “This agreement will bring the people of Georgia and the EU closer together and will strengthen tourism and business ties. It follows the completion of the necessary reforms by Georgia, addressing document security, border management, migration and asylum.”
Last month it was reported that the EU was considering the adoption of a US-style electronic travel permit scheme – a move that could create a new administrative hurdle for British tourists after Brexit.
Immigration minister Robert Goodwill told Parliament the EU was discussing the possibility of introducing a version of America’s Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA).
Currently foreign travellers must pay a fee of $14 (£11) when they complete ESTA, an automated online system that determines their eligibility to travel to the US.
“British people are now used to the US ESTA scheme and, therefore, we view with interest how the European scheme might develop and what similarities, and differences, there may be to the US scheme,” Mr Goodwill said.
“This type of scheme is generally there to help enhance security. To get to know as much as possible about the people who are intending to travel.
“It isn’t just flights, it could be people using ferries, or other border crossings into the European Union.”
Alan Brown, an SNP member of the European Scrutiny Committee, pointed out that Leave advocates in the referendum campaign had said there would be no need for visa-like travel schemes after Brexit.
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