Ukraine and the EU to step up work on ‘industrial visa-free regime’

Ukraine and the European Union agreed to speed up work on an ‘industrial visa-free regime’ (the Agreement on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of Industrial Products) and give an additional impetus to updating the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area between Ukraine and the EU.

This was agreed at a video conference between the Foreign Minister of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba and the EU Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi, according to Interfax-Ukraine, with reference to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (MFA).

“The parties agreed to speed up joint work to prepare for the signing of an agreement on industrial visa-free regime between Ukraine and the EU. Negotiations slowed down due to the coronavirus pandemic,” the MFA said in a message.

According to the statement of the Ministry, special attention will be paid to the support of the European Union for small and medium-sized businesses in Ukraine.

The parties agreed to give an additional impetus to the work on updating the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area between Ukraine and the EU, Ukraine’s accession to an agreement on a common aviation space, integration with EU single digital market, as well as Ukraine’s participation in the implementation of the European Green Deal.

The Cabinet of Ministers has already announced its intention to seek easing of the EU restrictions on imports of Ukraine-made products. Specifically, the Government wants to simplify access of Ukraine-certified goods to the EU market and to revise export quotas.