Europe open to whom?

Last week there was a flurry of unexpected statements by EU officials with regard to Ukraine. First, the European Commission’s vice-president Gunther Verheugen was quoted as saying that the post-Soviet countries will not become EU members. Later, another commissioner, Franco Frattini, urged EU members not to make “exclusive” visa agreements with other countries (primarily directed at Ukraine with its preferential visa arrangements with Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, and Lithuania). It was also learned that an EU entry visa will cost twice as much next year. Will this affect the Kyiv-Brussels talks on simplified visa procedures? What is the status of a draft agreement to this end? The Day spoke with Borys BAZYLEVSKY, director of the Consular Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

Are there reasons to expect that an agreement on simplified visa procedures will be concluded within a week after the Ukraine-EU-3 meeting?

Bazylevsky: The negotiations schedule is very intensive. Another round of consultations will be held today [Feb. 24] and matters that have sparked questions on both sides will be discussed, so that the final version of the agreement can be determined in Brussels on Feb. 27. We hope that we will complete this round and it will be possible to start the signing procedure on March 27. It should be noted that the EU is a rather complicated mechanism. Our experience of these talks shows that when the European Commission cannot determine its stand with regard to a certain clause of an agreement, such clauses are coordinated by EU countries during so-called referendums.

So we will only be starting the process of signing the agreement. How long do you think this process will last until the final harmonization?

Bazylevsky: It will all depend on how well the draft is prepared, how many clauses will have to be harmonized during these referendums, how complicated the coordination procedures will be after initialing the document. Here the process will be quicker, as the agencies concerned will forward their recommendations. In the EU it is somewhat more complicated.

What has been achieved during the talks? What does the Ukrainian side hope to accomplish?

Bazylevsky: We have agreed on most of the articles in the agreement and on its main principles; we must move toward simplifying the visa procedures. We have succeeded in unifying these procedures in all consular offices of EU member countries. Concretely, we have agreed that in the event that a Ukrainian citizen is refused a visa, s/he must be given an explanation. Among the other no less important arrangements is a clause stating that a certain category of nationals will be exempt from visas. Another category will be entitled to five-year multiple-entry visas, and another one to three-year multiple-entry visas. It has been finally agreed that five-year visas will be issued to journalists, business people, and parents of Ukrainian nationals who have permanent residence in EU countries. Three-year visas can be obtained by scientists/scholars, athletes, and students. We insist on reducing consular fees to a minimum and on single-entry visas being issued free of charge. Unfortunately, there are certain problems here.

...especially in the context of the European Commission’s recent statement about doubling EU entry visas fees next year. Will this affect the talks with Ukraine?

Bazylevsky: This will add certain nuances to our talks. However, the increase in fees for visas to EU countries is explained by the introduction of a new visa procedure, including biometric data. Therefore, the question of reducing consular fees is still on the agenda.

We have a number of bilateral agreements with our neighbors that have become EU members and issue free entry visas to Ukrainian nationals. Won’t this situation change?

Bazylevsky: Ukraine has very advantageous preferential visa agreements with Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, and Lithuania. We are negotiating clauses that will not damage these arrangements after enacting the agreement with the EU.

The European Commission’s vice-president Franco Frattini recently urged EU countries not to conclude preferential visa agreements with other countries.

Bazylevsky: Well, we’re insisting on preserving this preferentiality.

After Frattini’s statement, are you expecting a radical turn in the talks?

Bazylevsky: I don’t have this impression. We are in the final phase of negotiations. EU representatives have made various statements during various periods. At one time it was stated that Ukraine could not be considered a European country. Life, however, dictates different conditions that generate new evaluations.