Visa-free travel for Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine: Immediate steps needed to bring visa policy in line with EU policy

The European Commission has presented its 5th report on the monitoring of the EU visa-free regime with Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine and the countries of the Western Balkans. 

The report says all countries concerned continue to meet the visa liberalisation requirements and made progress in addressing last year’s recommendations. 

“Visa-free travel between the EU and the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership countries is a significant achievement. Mobility and people-to-people contacts are made easier by lifting visas and key policy reforms are triggered in these countries as a result,” said Ylva Johansson, Commissioner for Home Affairs.

All countries assessed continued to take measures to address irregular migration. However, further effort is needed to bring visa policy in line with EU policy as the lack of such an alignment may lead to increasing irregular arrivals, says the report.

Georgia

Further efforts are needed in visa policy and fighting money laundering and organised crime. In particular, Georgia should align its visa policy with the EU’s list of visa-required third countries and continue to address unfounded asylum applications in Member States.

Moldova

Further efforts are needed on visa policy, money laundering and organised crime. In particular, Moldova should align its visa policy with the EU’s list of visa-required third countries, in particular those third countries presenting irregular migration or security risks to the EU. The Commission also recommends continuing tailoring information campaigns on the visa-free regime to relevant migrant profiles, including vulnerable groups, those remaining beyond the period for which entry was granted (overstays), and those making unfounded asylum applications.

Ukraine

For Ukraine, further progress is needed, in particular, in fighting corruption. The country also needs to align Ukraine’s visa policy with the EU’s lists of visa-required third countries, in particular those third countries presenting irregular migration or security risks to the EU and continue efforts to improve the efficiency of anti-corruption institutions and law enforcement agencies, including by enabling NABU to carry out autonomous wiretapping. 

As the report’s scope covers up until the end of 2021, it mainly reflects the situation before the start of Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine on 24 February 2022.

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