EU, Ukraine wrap up summit with focus on reforms, visa-free regime

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker (From L to R) attend a joint press conference at the end of the EU-Ukraine summit in Brussels, Belgium, on Nov 24, 2016. The European Union (EU) will grant visa-free regime for Ukrainians by the end of this year, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said on Thursday. [Photo/Xinhua]

"The EU is committed to building better governance for Ukraine, and fostering economic reforms, to make Ukraine a stronger, more prosperous and more resilient country." Hahn added.

Apart from the support for Ukaine's reform, the EU confirmed that it will grant visa-free regime for Ukrainians by the end of this year, according to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.

"Ukraine has fulfilled all the conditions being set for this purpose...we should now deliver on visa liberalization,"said Juncker at the joint press conference.

Following a Commission proposal published in April, the Council of the EU on November 17 agreed a negotiating position on visa liberalization for Ukrainians.

Once the new visa regime for Ukraine is agreed with the European Parliament and formally adopted, it will provide for visa-free regime for Ukrainian citizens who travelling to the EU, for a period of stay of 90 days in any 180-day period.

However, taking into account of the migratory situation in the EU, the Commission proposed to strengthen the current suspension mechanism, making it easier for member states to notify circumstances which might lead to a suspension.