Brussels, 08/05/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 8 May, the European Commission issued two progress reports on the implementation by Georgia and Ukraine in the second phase of their respective Visa Liberalisation Action Plans (VLAP) since 2008 and 2010.
With just under ten days to go until the planned Eastern Partnership Summit in Riga on 21-22 May, the European Commission welcomed the important progress made by Ukraine, despite the difficult context and “exceptional circumstances” in the country. The important efforts made by Ukraine have helped to produce a coherent legislative framework and commitment to institutional reforms. The Commission points out, however, that “Sustained efforts by all stakeholders involved will be needed to implement the recommendations included in the present report”. The key priority is the sustainable implementation of the legal and institutional framework, in particular in the areas of asylum, anti-corruption, organised crime, trafficking in human beings and anti-discrimination. Fulfilling the recommendations required would allow Ukraine to move towards its visa liberalisation system.
With regard to Georgia, the Commission points out that the country's progress has been significant in a short period of time and is broadly in line with the second-phase benchmarks. While the legislative and institutional framework in place and the integrity of the institutional and organisational practices across the four blocks of VLAP generally comply with the European and international standards, Georgia still needs to address the remaining recommendations and sustained efforts by all stakeholders involved will be needed, explains the Commission. These recommendations particularly focus on asylum, anti-corruption, trafficking in human beings and drugs. The Commission will produce two new reports by the end of 2015. (Solenn Paulic)