European Commission representatives informed about new developments regarding the agreement on visa-free regime with Ukraine
The European Commission is proposing a new initiative to extend and update the road transport agreement with Ukraine. The proposed amendments are aimed at improving the practical application of the agreement, while maintaining its main objectives and scope.
The original agreement was signed in June 2022 and extended until the end of June 2024, granting Ukrainian and European carriers bilateral rights to transport on each other's territories. This is important as traditional transport routes in the region have been interrupted or closed due to the war in Ukraine. The extension of the agreement, at least until the end of 2025, will help secure supply chains.
The innovations cover a number of aspects, including:
- Mandatory availability of documents confirming the authority of the transport operator for international transport and compliance with the terms of the agreement.
- Mandatory availability of special documents confirming that the operation without cargo is related to transit or a bilateral operation, as provided for by the agreement.
- Strengthening of compliance by road freight transport operators with obligations related to the prevention of fraud or forgery of driver's documents and road safety violations that may lead to the withdrawal of licences.
- Addition of a new safeguard clause: if serious violations are detected in the national road transport market in a certain geographical area that may be related to the agreement, the agreement may be temporarily suspended in that geographical area.
The proposals are currently being considered by the EU Council, which may give the European Commission a mandate to negotiate with Ukraine and Moldova. Once the mandate is granted, the EC will begin formal negotiations with the partner countries to reach an agreement.
