EU Tightens Screws on Ukrainians Attempting to Get Schengen Visas

Conditions for Ukrainians obtaining a Schengen visa will reportedly be tightened as of June 23; the procedure for registering documents for a vacation or business trip in the EU will become more complicated.

As Europe continues to rescue, house and feed refugees from the Mediterranean, it has chosen to stifle the entry opportunities of its eastern neighbors. As of June 23,the EU will tighten conditions for all those Ukrainians who want to obtain a Schengen visa; this means the procedure for registering documents for a vacation or business trip in the EU will become more complicated, local media outlets said.

Those Ukrainians who wish to visit the EU's Schengen visa area will now have to appear in person at a visa center in order to provide biometric data, such as fingerprints and digital photographs. Children under 12 will be exempt from fingerprinting.

Earlier, it was possible to obtain a visa "in absentia", by just handing over the necessary documents to a tour operator or agency.

It was reported that the introduction of the new regulations, stipulated by the Schengen Information System, is aimed at strengthening security measures.

According to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry's Policy and Communications Department, the introduction of stricter rules "aims to enhance security in the Schengen area".

A report by the International Fund for Agricultural Development, has, meanwhile, revealed that Ukraine takes first place when it comes to cash transfers abroad by migrant workers in EU countries.  Poland and Nigeria take second and third position, respectively.

In 2014, a total of 7.6 billion dollars have been transferred by Ukrainian migrant workers to their families in Ukraine from EU countries, mainly Germany and Greece.