Ground Report

EU Parliament has corroborated the mechanism of visa-free access suspension. The only thing left to do is to grant the visa-free access to Ukraine adoption of which has been drawn up by European officials beforehand. Even though visa-free access for Ukrainians has been discussed since long ago as if it was an accomplished fact the EU finds more and more new obstacles for Ukraine to overcome so that the protractedly promised decision could finally come into force.

The very idea of abrogation of visa system as well as conditions of its provision are not new though on the eve of the decision-making day European politicians considered it necessary to enhance the mechanism of its suspension. In times when the greatest danger for Europe is usually coming from those originating from non-European states the EU continues impeding the pro-European countries although all the formalities have already been settled.

In particular on the EU demand, Ukraine has carried out 144 provisions in order to obtain visa-free access. Among them there were provisions requiring electronic declarations, which the conditions in terms of providing information on the private property were almost the most rigid in Europe. However the EU is still delaying the decision-making moment and the new dates of issue processing are being fixed by the European parliament.

The solution of the visa-free access issue for Ukraine and Georgia still can’t enter the next-year agenda of the European parliament. Therefore the EU let itself be led by separate states, notably France, which has already blocked any progress in reference to this issue until the end of the Presidential election that is summer 2017. The EU politicians see it clearly that the ultra-right parties may take advantage of the decision on abrogation of the visa system bringing forth a painful topic for most Europeans which is migration crisis.

Such a policy conducted by the EU may entail certain consequences. First of all the EU will compromise itself as a party to the agreements. It will be the first time when the EU will show itself as a partner that can’t be trusted. Secondly the EU will unveil the sluggishness of its bureaucratic system and confirm that the accusations of its incapacity are not that groundless. Thirdly it will aggravate the whole geopolitical situation which is pretty complicated as it is. Even at this very moment the victory of the pro-Russian candidates in Moldova and Bulgaria gained through the Russian good offices and special services activity, may create the trouble spots in Europe that can be stricken by Russia at any moment.

But it seems to be nothing in comparison with potential damage that may be inflicted in case of Marine Le Pen’s victory at 2017 Presidential election in France. Whatever hardly possible seemed such a scenario to be, we should never forget that a sudden victory of Tramp in the US doused both America and the whole world as a cold shower. If far-right parties obtain ascendancy over France, Russia’s front in the EU will expand and any discussion of granting Ukraine visa-free access will be cut off.

That is why, in case if the EU follows the lead of the separate member-states it will acquire the reputation of the incompetent organization and jeopardize its very existence. Setting reasonable terms for adoption of the visa-free system prior to the election in France will warrant the existence of the unified political will among the EU member-states and prevent the progress of the negative scenario. In this case the EU will be able to make an objection in response to the accusations of its political incompetence. It is important to understand that it is dangerous and harmful for the whole European Union to be guided by interests of separate member-states. Putin will further try to put spoke in the wheel of European machine. And it is hardly ever possible that his intentions are restricted merely to it as he seeks to tear the EU apart by delivering pointed strikes.

In such a situation the EU needs to take relevant measures and demonstrate unity. One of the possible displays of it may become the implementation of the visa-free access for Ukraine that was promised so long ago.