Paneuropa Austria Welcomes EU Visa Announcement!

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The European Union’s announcement to abolish visa requirements for Ukrainian citizens from summer 2016 has been met with the strongest approval by the Paneuropa Movement Austria.

For Paneuropa, the oldest pro-European unification movement, freedom of travel and the associated abolition of visa requirements for European citizens is one of its most important principles.

Karl Habsburg, President of the Austrian Paneuropa Movement, clarifies: “The abolition of visa requirements for Ukraine, a clearly European state, is long overdue!”

In recent years, the Paneuropa Movement has repeatedly issued statements on Ukraine, emphasising the country’s European perspective and demanding the elimination of the visa regime. At the same time, it has highlighted the necessity of internal reforms in Ukraine, such as the eradication of corruption and the establishment of the rule of law, and has demanded these from the Ukrainian government.

In countries with underdeveloped rule of law, visas are an instrument of arbitrariness and harassment against citizens, restricting their freedom.

As early as 2006, the International Paneuropa Union therefore took a clear stance at its General Assembly in Strasbourg:

“The Paneuropa Union is committed to the principle of freedom of travel for Europeans within Europe. We therefore demand the abolition of all bureaucratic and other travel barriers – especially visas – for citizens of all European states within Europe.”

Karl Habsburg now calls on all EU member states to approve the abolition of visa requirements for Ukraine!

For enquiries:

Rainhard Kloucek, Secretary General, Paneuropa Movement Austria

Neulinggasse 37/3, 1030 Vienna, +43 1 505 15 93 0, oesterreich@paneuropa.or.at

Paneuropa Movement Austria welcomes suspension of Visa-regulation

The announcement by European Union diplomats to relieve Ukrainian citizens from

visa obligations is highly appreciated by the Paneuropean Movement Austria.

For Paneuropa, the oldest European unification movement, freedom of travel for citizens – and linked with that the absence of any visa regulation – is one of the most important principles.

Karl Habsburg, President of Paneuropa Austria, specifies: “The suspension of the visa obligation for Ukraine, a clearly European country, is overdue!”

In recent decades, Paneuropa has made several clear statements on the issue of visa regulations for Ukraine and pointed out the European perspective of the country. Reforms in the fields of corruption, jurisdiction, administration, and the rule of law are highly necessary, and Paneuropa has demanded them many times from the different governments of Ukraine.

The announcement by the European Union is now a first reward for the efforts of the Ukrainian government and many civil society organisations to reform and modernise the country. Nonetheless, many steps must still be taken, and the path of reform must not be abandoned.

In countries with a low development of the rule of law, visa regulations are an instrument of arbitrariness and harassment to restrict the freedom of their citizens.

In 2006, the International Paneuropa Union declared at its General Assembly:

“The Paneuropa Union avows itself to the main principle of freedom of travel for Europeans within Europe. We demand the suspension of all bureaucratic and state-related barriers like visa regulations for all European citizens within Europe!”

Karl Habsburg urges all European Union Member States to approve the abolishment of visa regulations for Ukraine!

Contact: Rainhard Kloucek, Secretary General, Paneuropa Movement Austria

Neulinggasse 37/3, A – 1030 Vienna, +43 1 505 15 93 0, oesterreich@paneuropa.or.at