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September 22, 17:54
Joseph Borrell (Photo: REUTERS / Yves Herman)
The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell denies that the EU’s visa-free regime with Ukraine is under threat of cancellation due to the situation surrounding the appointment of the head of the SAP.
He stated this at a joint briefing with Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba in Kiev.
“Regarding the suspension of the visa exemption regime, the EU has an adequate mechanism, within which periodical reports are drawn up on compliance with all the requirements. The last such report was dated July 20, and according to this report, Ukraine was confirmed to comply with all the guidelines related to the visa-free regime. To this day it is, ”Borrell said.
According to the head of European diplomacy, the report focused on the importance of independent and effective work of anti-corruption agencies and avoiding the politicization of law enforcement agencies.
The statements about a possible review of visa-free travel between Ukraine and the EU appeared after the Verkhovna Rada approved the composition of the competition commission to elect a new head of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, despite the Union’s recommendations European.
German MEP Viola von Cramon said that a visa-free regime with the EU is under threat due to the situation surrounding the appointment of the SAP president.
In response, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he supports the Western partners’ position on the independence of anti-corruption bodies, and Petro Poroshenko’s party is spreading rumors about the abolition of visa-free travel with the EU.
At the same time, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry responded that Kiev had not received any official signals from EU representatives about the revision of the visa waiver policy.
