Ukraine Streamlines Eurointegration Laws

KYIV, Ukraine, April 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Ukrainian parliament has adopted two laws bearing changes that are required by the action plan on visa liberalization with the EU. New legislation is intended to streamline the country's conformity with European standards, reported tyzhden.ua. Both laws have been voted in by 362 deputies out of 421 MPs registered at the session of the parliament.

One of the adopted laws introduced amendments to certain legislative acts so as to bring national legislation into conformity with the standards of the Criminal Law Convention on Corruption. The new law excluded two articles and introduced the term "undue advantage" instead of the old term "bribe". Thus, the criminal liability is assigned not only for giving or receiving, but also for the offer or promise of such undue advantage. Besides, the law establishes criminal liability for the offer or promise of granting undue advantage not only to and by an official but also to and by any employee of the state enterprise, institution or an organization.

The other law introduced amendments to the Criminal Code and Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine so as to bring it into conformity with the provisions of the Criminal Law Convention on Corruption (ETS. No 173), ratified by the Ukrainian parliament back on October 18, 2006. The law, among other things, introduced several new articles as well as the terms "special confiscation" and "undue advantage".

Suffice it to say on April 18, 2013, the European Parliament has given its consent to the entry into force of the agreement between Ukraine and the European Union on the facilitation of the issuance of visas to citizens of Ukraine. The amended agreement between the EU and Ukraine could come into force on July 1, 2013, reported Ukraine's representative to the EU, Kostiantyn Yeliseyev in his interview with Interfax-Ukraine on April 18. He said that this scenario was possible if the EU Foreign Affairs Council made a "final decision" not later than May 2013.

The agreement enables Ukrainian citizens to undergo improved, simplified and clear EU visa application procedures. It also expands the categories of Ukrainian citizens eligible for the simplified procedure of getting free and/or multiple-entry visas, improves visa issuing procedures for media representatives and officials, and determines clear periods of validity of multiple-entry visas.