We expect that all necessary legislative acts withing the first stage of the Visa liberalization Action Plan will be adopted in the nearest future, and this will allow us to pass to the second stage.

It was stated by First Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Valeriy Khoroshkovskiy during the meeting with EU Commissioner for internal affairs C.Malmstroem in Brussels.

Valeriy Khoroshkovksiy briefed the Commissioner about the progress in implementation of the Visa liberalization Action Plan, and in particular about the adoption on 6 September 2012 of the Law of Ukraine "On principles of prevention and fight against discrimination in Ukraine", which had become an important step towards protection of the fundamental human rights. He also informed about adoption in the first reading of other bills aimed to open the way for introduction of biometric passports.

"We are ready for an active dialogue with the Commission during the preparation of the bills for the second reading. Their adoption will allow Ukraine to finalize the first stage of the Visa liberalization Action Plan", Valeriy Khoroshkovskiy stressed.

He also stressed on the necessity to finalize the procedures necessary for the entry into force of the Agremeent amending the Visa faciliation agreement, whose aim is to broaden categories of Ukrainian nationals eligible for facilitated visa issuance.

Press Service of First Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine