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The Council of Ministers of the European Union approved the decision to grant a visa -free regime for citizens of Ukraine, reports President Petro Poroshenko. Thus, all the necessary procedures for making changes to the regulations for visiting the EU countries have been fulfilled.

"Only the Council of Ministers of the European Union approved the final decision to grant us, citizens of Ukraine, the right to visa -free travel. May 17 in Strasbourg, as we agreed with our European friends, will solemnly sign the relevant legislative act," Poroshenko wrote. "We are driving off the post -Soviet past and becoming more and more become part of the unified European civilizational space. Passport.

After signing the document in the European Parliament, the decision of the EU Council will be published in the official messenger of the European Union. 20 days after the publication, the abolition of visas will enter into force. Thus, by mid -June, Ukrainians will be able to come to the EU countries only with a passport.

The owners of biometric passports will be able to be in the EU countries within 90 days in the framework of the period of 180 days with tourist, professional or other purposes. However, they do not have the right to work in the European Union.

On April 6, the European Parliament supported the provision of a visa -free regime to Ukraine . 521 deputy voted for such a decision, against 75, 36 parliamentarians abstained.

The introduction of a visa -free regime with the EU Ukraine has achieved more than three years, from the very victory of Euromaidan. In December 2015, the European Commission recognized that Kyiv meets all the criteria necessary for the abolition of visas. Nevertheless, the final solution to the issue was delayed, although all intermediate decisions were made in favor of Ukraine.

From other countries of the former USSR, a visa -free regime has already achieved Moldova and Georgia. In Moldova, he began to operate on April 28, 2014 . The issue of Georgia has recently resolved - visas for citizens of this country have been canceled from March 28 this year .