Some EU countries have imposed excessive conditions for visa issuance to Ukrainians. Thus, the number of ungrounded denials to issue visas has increased, same as the cost of visas that, in some cases, is over the agreed Euro 35 per visa. Some consulates demand documents from Ukrainians which are not envisaged by the agreement.

The official threatened that, as an extreme measure, Ukraine might restore the visa regime with some EU countries.

In June, Ukraine Security Service said it was ready to provide to the EU the evidence of violation by some EU members of the agreement on simplified visa issuance. In January 2008, Ukraine’s parliament endorsed the agreement on simplified travel with EU.

For his part, the first deputy head of Ukraine’s State Border Service, Pavlo Shysholin, says it is not that easy for Ukrainians to get Shenghen visas. As a result, the number of Ukrainians who traveled to EU countries with which Ukraine has an easy travel agreement in the first 6 months of 2008 dropped by 34% on 2007, while the number of Europeans entering Ukraine rose by 20% .

Unfortunately, the official notes, the signed agreements on cross-border travel did not work, and Ukrainians couldn’t benefit by them. “We have witnessed a biased attitude to Ukrainians while crossing the EU border,” he complained, adding that all the information on such incidents has been passed to Ukraine’s foreign ministry.

P. Shysholin praised Aug. 28 Pres Yushchenko’s decree, saying it is aimed to resolve the problems of Ukrainians who travel to Europe.

Pres Yushchenko has issued a decree Aug. 28 on regulating mutual travel of Ukrainians and citizens of EU countries. In line with the decree, the cabinet is to submit proposals within one month on how to ensure similar requirements for travel for Ukrainians and citizens of EU countries.