Visa-free regime for Ukraine with EU finally signed (2)

On Wednesday, 17th of May 2017 in Strasbourg, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko took part in the signing ceremony of the legislative act on abolishing visa requirements for Ukrainians for trips to the countries of the European Union and the Schengen zone.

The document was signed by President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani and Minister for Home Affairs and National Security of Malta Carmelo Abela.

According to the legislative order, Ukraine is now included to the list of countries whose citizens no more require a visa when travelling for short stays of up to 90 days to the Schengen area.

Now the legislative act should be published in the EU's Official Journal and the visa-free regime will come into force in 20 days. As expected, the visa-free travels for Ukrainian citizens are to come into force on June 11, 2017.

EU Ukraine Free Trade Area started 1 January 2016

On 1 January 2016, the European Union (EU) and Ukraine started applying the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) which forms part of the Association Agreement signed in June 2014. The rest of the Association Agreement, containing political and cooperation provisions, has already been provisionally applied since November 2014. With the entry into force of the DCFTA both sides ensured that markets for goods and services are mutually opened on the basis of predictable and enforceable trade rules so that new opportunities will be created for the EU and Ukraine businesses, investors, consumers and citizens. By more closely aligning Ukraine’s regulations with EU legislation, the DCFTA will promote higher quality standards for products and will increase the levels of consumer and environmental protection. Economic cooperation and exchanges will also be enhanced, contributing to increased stability and prosperity for Ukraine.

Ukrainian Unity Day

Ukrainian Unity Day (Den Sobornosti) is an important historical event in Ukraine, which marks the anniversary of the unification of eastern and western Ukraine in 1919. It is celebrated on January 22 every year. Unity Day is a Ukrainian observance that commemorates the Treaty of Unity signed on January 22, 1919.

The story behind Unity Day dates back to January 22, 1919, when eastern and western Ukraine was united through the Treaty of Unity. Historically, up until 1919, these territories – Ukraine’s People Republic and West Ukrainian People Republic – often belonged to different empires.

The agreement was aimed at creating a unified Ukrainian state, a movement long awaited by the intelligentsia on both sides.

«The territory of Ukraine, divided over the centuries, including Galicia, Bukovyna, Carpathian Ruthenia, and Dnieper Ukraine will now become a great-united Ukraine. Dreams, for which the best sons of Ukraine fought and died for, have come true», – was written in the text of the universal made by the Directorate of the Ukrainian People’s Republic.

On this day Ukrainians unfold a giant National Flag to mark National Unity Day in Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Lviv, Kharkiv, Donetsk and other cities of Ukraine. Several years ago, civic activists in Kyiv, (taking an example from the first “human chain” in Ukraine, which connected Kyiv and Lviv in January 1990), joined each other in a human chain, more than a mile long, on Kyiv’s Patona bridge, connecting banks of the river Dnipro to symbolize the unity of Ukraine’s east and west.

Happy 24th Independence Day of Ukraine

On behalf of the team of Ukrainian International Education Council, accept the sincere congratulations of our state national holiday - the Day of the National Flag  23^rd of August and Independence Day of Ukraine 24^th of August!

Leer más: Happy 24th Independence Day of Ukraine