No lifting of the visa barrier for Ukrainians, says Juncker

Report of a letter sent in November 2015 from European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker to the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko on the subject of the visa regime between Ukraine and the European Union. The EU was said to want Ukraine to pass a set of judicial and human rights reforms before visa-free travel would be offered.

EurActiv reported that Ukraine's parliament had damaged chances of visa-free travel to most EU nations by blocking legislation on the 5 November 2015 that would have banned discrimination against gays in the workplace. Such barrier came to an end on 12 November, as the parliament approved legislation to meet EU's demands.

• Primary Source

ESO: Key Source: Euromaidan - Protests in Ukraine 2013 - 2015 - Key source http://www.europeansources.info/record/euromaidan-protests-in-ukraine-2013-2015/

European Commission: EUIP: Before leaving: Visas: Do I need a visa? http://ec.europa.eu/immigration/do-i-need-a-visa_en

ESO: Background information: Press statement by President Donald Tusk after meeting with President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko http://www.europeansources.info/record/statement-press-statement-by-president-donald-tusk-after-meeting-with-president-of-ukraine-petro-poroshenko/

EurActiv, 06.11.15: Anti-gay law ruins Ukraine’s chances for visa-free travel http://www.euractiv.com/sections/europes-east/anti-gay-law-ruins-ukraines-chances-visa-free-travel-319239

The Guardian, 05.11.15: Ukraine eschews visa-free EU travel by blocking law to protect gay people http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/05/ukraine-visa-free-european-travel-anti-gay-law

Website: Europe Without Barriers. Civic initiative http://novisa.org.ua/en/

Europe Without Barriers: Open Europe, 05.05.15: Ukraine Towards Visa-free Regime (№ 3) http://novisa.org.ua/en/27564/

Ukraine: President: Video, 05.11.15: President’s address regarding Verkhovna Rada’s consideration of draft laws for the visa-free regime with the EU http://www.president.gov.ua/en/videos/zvernennya-prezidenta-shodo-rozglyadu-u-verhovnij-radi-zakon-161

EUObserver, 13.11.15: Ukraine gives equal rights to gay workers, to please Brussels https://euobserver.com/lgbti/131098

The Guardian, 13.11.15: Ukraine moves closer to visa-free EU travel as gay rights bill passes http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/13/ukraine-moves-closer-to-visa-free-eu-travel-as-gay-rights-bill-passes

Euronews, 09.11.15: Ukraine-EU visa deal uncertain http://www.euronews.com/2015/11/09/ukraine-eu-visa-deal-uncertain/

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