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Poroshenko says confident Ukraine will be granted visa-free travel with EU in 2016

On December 18, the European Commission recommended the Council of the European Union to urgently consider visa-free agreements with Georgia, Ukraine and Kosovo

KIEV, December 20. /TASS/. Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko said on Sunday he has no doubts Ukraine will be granted visa free travel with the European Union in 2016.

"I have no doubts that in 2016 Ukrainian will be granted the right of visa free travel to the European Union," he said in an interview with the Inter television channel.

He said he hoped Ukraine would be included in the so-called white Schengen list. "The signing of a visa-free agreement with the Schengen zone countries opens up new possibilities for us in terms of the so called white Schengen list featuring 57 countries, from South Korea, Mexico and Uruguay, the Caribbean islands, which demand visas, to many other countries," he said.

Apart from that, visa-free travel with the European Union "may promote easier dialogue on visa liberalization with such countries as Australia, Canada and the United States," he added.

On December 18, the European Commission recommended the Council of the European Union to urgently consider visa-free agreements with Georgia, Ukraine and Kosovo. Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister in charge of issues of European integration Elena Zerkal said however that after this report of the European Commission Ukraine would have to go through a long procedure of consultations and agreements.

Experts say Ukraine may be granted a simplified visa issuance procedure rather that complete visa abolition.