Visa liberalisation with Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia

The EU has conducted ‘Visa Liberalisation Dialogues’ with three Eastern Partnership countries, namely Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia. Through these dialogues, the EU has taken gradual steps towards the long-term goal of visa-free travel on a case-by-case basis, provided that conditions for well-managed and secure mobility are in place.

These dialogues, led by DG Migration and Home Affairs, were built upon ‘Visa Liberalisation Action Plans’ (VLAP), which include four blocks of benchmarks related to document security, including biometrics; border management, migration and asylum; public order and security; and external relations and fundamental rights. The benchmarks concerned both the policy and institutional framework (legislation and planning) and the effective and sustainable implementation of this framework.

The implementation of the Action Plans has been closely monitored by the Commission through regular progress reports, transmitted to the European Parliament and the Council, and which are publicly accessible. In addition, progress has been monitored through regular meetings of senior ranking officials from the European Commission and the partner countries.

Visa Liberalisation Dialogue and Progress reports on Ukraine:

The EU-Ukraine Visa Liberalisation Dialogue was launched on 29 October 2008 and the VLAP was presented to Ukraine on 22 November 2010.
The first Progress Report on Ukraine was issued in September 2011.
The second Progress Report on Ukraine was issued in February 2012.
The third Progress Report on Ukraine was issued in November 2013.
The fourth Progress Report on Ukraine was issued in May 2014.
The fifth Progress Report on Ukraine was issued in May 2015.
The sixth Progress Report (final report) on Ukraine was issued in December 2015.
The last Press release of the assessment by the European Commission of the VLAP with Ukraine was published in May 2015.
The European Commission proposed on 20 April 2016 to allow visa-free travel to the Schengen area for Moldovan citizens holding a biometric passport. This proposal builds on the successful implementation by Moldova of all the benchmarks set in its Visa Liberalisation Action Plan.
The decision to transfer Ukraine to the list of third countries whose nationals are exempt from visa requirement came into effect on 11 June 2017. From this date, the visa obligation for citizens of Ukraine who hold a biometric passport and want to travel to the Schengen zone for a short-stay was abolished.

Visa Liberalisation Dialogue and Progress reports on Moldova:

The EU-Republic of Moldova Visa Liberalisation Dialogue was launched on 15 June 2010 and the VLAP was presented to the Moldovan authorities in January 2011.
The first Progress Report on Moldova was issued in September 2011.
The second Progress Report on Moldova was issued in February 2012.
The third Progress Report on Moldova was issued in June 2012.
A Report on the Possible Migratory and Security Impacts of Future Visa Liberalisation for Moldova on the EU was issued in August 2012.
The fourth Progress Report on Moldova was issued in June 2013.
The fifth Progress Report(final report) on Moldova was issued in November 2013.
The European Commission proposed on 27 November 2013 to allow visa-free travel to the Schengen area for Moldovan citizens holding a biometric passport. This proposal builds on the successful implementation by the Republic of Moldova of all the benchmarks set in its Visa Liberalisation Action Plan.
The decision to transfer the Republic of Moldova to the list of third countries whose nationals are exempt from visa requirement came into effect on 28 April 2014. From this date, the visa obligation for citizens of the Republic of Moldova who hold a biometric passport and want to travel to the Schengen zone for a short-stay was abolished.

Visa Liberalisation Dialogue and Progress reports on Georgia:

The EU-Georgia Visa Liberalisation Dialogue was launched on 4 June 2012 (IP/12/561) and the VLAP was presented to the Georgian authorities on 25 February 2013.
The first Progress Report on Georgia was published in November 2013.
The second Progress Report on Georgia was published in October 2014.
The third Progress Report on Georgia was published in May 2015.
The fourth Progress Report (final report) on Georgia was published in December 2015.
The European Commission proposed on 9 March 2016 to allow visa-free travel to the Schengen area for Georgian citizens holding a biometric passport. This proposal builds on the successful implementation by Georgia of all the benchmarks set in its Visa Liberalisation Action Plan.
The decision to transfer Georgia to the list of third countries whose nationals are exempt from visa requirement came into effect on 28 March 2017. From this date, the visa obligation for citizens of Georgia who hold a biometric passport and want to travel to the Schengen zone for a short-stay was abolished.

On 20 December 2017, the European Commission published its First Report under the Visa Suspension Mechanism (Communication and accompanying Staff Working Document) reporting on the continuous fulfilment of the visa liberalisation benchmarks for the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership countries.