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Ukraine to finalise first stage for visa-free regimen with EU

Ukraine will finalise over the current year the first stage of legal preparations for organisation of a visa-free regimen with the EU countries

DONETSK, November 9 (Itar-Tass) —— Ukraine will finalise over the current year the first stage of legal preparations for organisation of a visa-free regimen with the EU countries, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Konstantin Grishchenko said.

The ministry has adopted an action plan, and the two sides have agreed already on several legal regulations to have a legal base for solving practical issues, he said.

“This year, we are finalising the first stage of the legal work,” Grishchenko said.

By late 2011, Ukraine will start ensuring necessary conditions for transparency of the process. According to the ministry, they include biometric passports for Ukrainians, real-time communication system for law enforcement, border control, customs and other authorities involved in control over travel of people and cargo between the EU and Ukraine.

“This stage will realistically begin from end of the current year, but its success will depend on available resources and effective work of the authorities,” Grishchenko said, adding that most of the tasks may be settled within two years.

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