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Finland is ready to support visa-free travel for Ukrainians and Georgians to the EU
Finland is ready to support visa-free travel for Ukrainian and Georgian citizens to the EU, but is not prepared to do the same for citizens of Turkey and Kosovo, according to the Finnish Secretary of State, Olli-Pekka Heinonen, Yle reported.
As stated by Heinonen, Turkey and Kosovo have not fulfilled the conditions necessary to receive a visa-free regime with the EU.
"The issue of visa-free regime for Turkey remains open," the Finnish Secretary of State said following a meeting of EU …
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The US and Canada to help reform Ukraine's Anti-Monopoly Committee
The Anti-Monopoly Committee of Ukraine (AMCU) signed a memorandum with the US Federal Trade Commission, which involves the participation of international experts in the development of anti-monopoly policies in Ukraine, the head of the AMCU Yuriy Terentyev said, UNIAN reports.
"We signed a memorandum of cooperation with the US Federal Trade Commission this Wednesday. This program provides ongoing professional support for the work of the Anti-Monopoly Committee by the Commission," Terentyev said …
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Finnish PM: Finland's NATO membership should be determined by a referendum
Finland may apply for NATO membership, but it will require broad support from the local population, as stated by Prime Minister Juha Sipilä, speaking at a party congress in the city of Seinäjoki.
"I consider it is important, that if one day we will come to this decision, a referendum will be held," Sipilä said.
"This does not mean that those who make decisions in the country are transferring their responsibilities [to the people], this means that they understand that such a big decision …
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EU Council has not come to an agreement on visa-free regimes for Georgia, Ukraine, Kosovo and Turkey
During a meeting of the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council on Friday in Luxembourg, Ministers of the EU countries were not able to reach an agreement on the liberalization of the visa regime for Georgia, Ukraine, Kosovo and Turkey, Interfax-Ukraine reported.
"We’ve talked about the liberalization of visa policies, noting the progress made by all countries, including Turkey. But we have not made a decision yet, because some EU countries still see a number of problems and are not able to agree. …
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Merkel: Sanctions against Russia will not end by themselves
German Chancellor Angela Merkel stated that sanctions imposed against Russia “will not end by themselves.”
According to Reuters, she stated that implementing the Minsk Agreements is the key to lifting the sanctions.
The EU imposed economic sanctions against Russia in July 2014 due to the crisis in Ukraine. In response, Russia banned the import of a number of products from the EU. The European Union tied these sanctions to the Minsk Agreements. According to the EU, the terms of the Minsk …