Efforts to simplify the visa procedure are at the top of the agenda in the Ukraine-EU relationship, a high-ranking European Commission (EC) official told The Day in Brussels. Both Ukraine and the EU hope that talks on this issue will begin this October, before the Ukraine-EU summit, where Kyiv and Brussels will report on the initial results of bilateral cooperation as part of the new neighborhood policy.
Kyiv has prioritized the visa issue in its efforts to make tangible progress toward the European Union in the shortest possible term. The number of Ukrainians wishing to visit EU countries is rising every year. As a case in point, the number of Ukrainians traveling to Germany increased from 92,000 in 2002 to 150,500 in 2003, while the number of Ukrainian travelers to Austria rose from 15,000 in 2002 to 37,000 in 2003, up by 63% and 156%, respectively. Other countries have similar statistics. In the wake of the Orange Revolution, Brussels has shown a readiness to meet Ukraine halfway in resolving the visa problem. Before the revolution, try as they might, Ukrainian diplomats could not break through the wall of denial and failed to convince Brussels to loosen visa restrictions. Before, the European Commission feared that, after beginning visa talks with Ukraine, it would be forced to begin similar talks with Mediterranean and Balkan nations as well as Moldova.
Today EC officials prefer not to mention such reasons for their protracted silence on the visa issue, since they would be forced to admit to applying double standards in their dealings with different countries. For example, the EC started talks on simplifying the visa procedure for Russia a long time ago, even though Moscow never rushed to make concessions on issues of fundamental importance to the EU. Well before Russia, Kyiv prepared a draft of the readmission agreement outlining the procedure for repatriating illegal migrants, but Brussels officials did not pay much attention to it, at least not before the Orange Revolution. Today EU officials attribute the accelerated talks on a simplified visa procedure with Russia to the so-called “Kaliningrad process” — efforts to resolve the problems of Russian citizens in Kaliningrad oblast in connection with last year’s expansion of the EU. The Russians’ major advantage is the favorable treatment the Kremlin receives from key EU members. To illustrate, Russia has already signed simplified visa procedure agreements with Germany, France, and Italy. So it will not be too much trouble for Moscow to sign a general agreement with the European Commission. In the case of Ukraine, however, the situation is much more difficult and more problematic in many ways. Ukraine is showing greater openness and readiness for talks on a simplified visa procedure. Brussels is very pleased with Kyiv’s decision to temporarily allow visa-free travel for EU citizens as of May 1. “This is graphic evidence of Ukraine’s desire to strengthen its relationship with the EU,” an EU official told The Day. He views this step as a form of pressure on Brussels in the context of the upcoming visa talks. Will it work? In view of the European bureaucrats’ enthusiasm for rewarding Ukraine somehow for its democratic aspirations, there is every reason to hope that the EU will reciprocate this gesture. The progress on his issue can be also viewed from a different angle: Brussels is ready to reward Kyiv in every possible way, if only to keep Ukraine from broaching the sensitive issue of EU membership. However, the European Commission’s efforts may prove futile. According to The Day’s sources, Ukraine might officially apply for EU membership already in early 2006. Until then Kyiv intends to provide compelling evidence of its progress toward Europe. In addition, the intervening time can be used to drum up support for Ukraine’s EU membership among European nations. So far Germany and France are the biggest skeptics.
Kyiv’s advantage prior to the visa talks is the fact that it has already established favorable border-crossing procedures with several EU member states. Ukrainians receive free Polish and Lithuanian visas. The Czech Republic has followed suit, introducing free visas for Ukrainians until September 1, which is when the temporary period of visa-free travel for EU citizens in Ukraine will end. In effect, more than a few EU member states are ready to support Ukraine. This is of tremendous significance because it is up to EU national governments to authorize the European Commission to begin visa talks with Kyiv. The EC is currently determining the categories of citizens who will qualify for the simplified visa procedure and compiling the list of documents required to obtain a visa, etc.
What is the main problem? European officials admit that Germany’s stance may prove to be a stumbling block. Berlin is still reeling from the recent visa scandal. The opposition has accused the government of shutting its eyes to an overly generous visa policy pursued by German embassies, in particular the one in Ukraine, which allegedly enabled thousands of illegal migrants with a criminal past to enter Germany. Hearings in this case have just started in Germany, with the questioning of Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer planned for April 25. The outcome of this case will largely affect the beginning of the visa talks with Ukraine. Incidentally, most German journalists consider it a purely political scandal. In this way the opposition, represented by the bloc formed by the Christian Democratic Union, the Christian Social Union, and the Free Democratic Party, is trying to undermine the government’s ratings (a coalition made up of the Green Party and Social Democrats) ahead of the elections. In a few months this scandal will be a thing of the past. Yet it might adversely affect the visa talks with Ukraine.
In the meantime, Ukrainian citizens have no choice but to wait in long lines outside the consulates of EU member states. The heap of paperwork that comes with the visa application is only one troublesome aspect of the visa procedure. On top of this, you may encounter a rude consular officer, who tells you to obtain another slip of paper without which it is impossible to obtain a visa. You can consider yourself lucky if the consulate is located in your city. Otherwise, you have to travel to and from the capital and wait in long lines. Until recently Kyiv was insisting on a simplified visa procedure for individuals with diplomatic passports. Apparently, Ukrainian citizens who suffer most of all from visa red tape are diplomats. Today Kyiv is requesting a simplified visa procedure for a broader range of citizens. Will these requests be met with mutual proposals from the EU?
