DISINFO: European Council complicates visa-free regime for Ukraine
SUMMARY
The European Union has decided to make it more difficult for Ukrainians to enter the EU by introducing paid special permits for Ukrainian citizens. Not all Ukrainians will be permitted to enter Europe. The regime of visa-free trips to the EU for Ukrainian citizens will be subject to new administrative restrictions, the European Council decided.
RESPONSE
No evidence given. All conclusions of the European Council's decisions can be found here. No decision was made about paid entry permits for Ukrainian citizens. The story misrepresents the implementation of the new European travel information and authorization system (ETIAS). This is an electronic travel authorisation system for visitors to the EU from non-EU countries that have been granted visa-free access to the EU and Schengen countries. The introduction of this system is in no way tied to Ukraine - changes to the EU's border control system are independent and were known long before the Ukrainian visa-waiver was approved. According to the new rules, which will enter into force around 2021, residents of visa-free countries will merely have to fill out an electronic application once every three years and pay a fee of seven euros, after which they will receive a positive response within minutes. The electronic application for ETIAS has nothing to do with the Schengen visa program. The new EU safety rules will affect 61 states. Further debunking by StopFake.