Ukraine, EU extend 'transport visa-free regime' for another year

Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal reports.

He noted that the updated agreement provides for a number of mutual obligations regarding the availability of licenses for transportation and truck labeling. 

According to him, the 'transport visa-free regime' has already boosted Ukraine's economy: in the year and a half since the agreement was signed, Ukraine has exported 48% more goods to the EU than in the same period before it was signed.

"We expect this positive trend to continue. The visa-free regime has boosted imports, which grew by 44%. These are, in particular, goods and components that Ukrainian manufacturers need to set up their production process," Shmyhal added.

What is known about the 'transport visa-free regime' between Ukraine and the EU

On August 25, 2022, the Joint Committee of the Convention on Common Transit and the Convention on the Simplification of Formalities officially decided to invite Ukraine to join as of October 1, 2022.

On June 25, 2022, Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Mustafa Nayyem announced that Ukraine would sign a "transport visa-free regime" with the EU, after which no permits for international transportation by the Union would be required.  

On September 16, 2022, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy approved an agreement between Ukraine and the European Union on freight transportation by road.

On March 16, 2023, the agreement was extended, which abolished the need for Ukrainian carriers to obtain appropriate permits for bilateral and transit transportation to the EU.