VISA POLICY OF HUNGARY AND SLOVAKIA

IN CONSULAR ESTABLISHMENTS ON THE TERRITORY OF TRANSCARPATHIAN REGION

Ph.D. Svitlana MYTRYAYEVA DirectorRegional Branch of the National Institute for Strategic Studies in Uzhgorod

Universytetska str. 21/413, 88017 Uzhgorod, Ukrainetel.: +38 0312 64 44 51, fax: +38 0312 64 44 79e-mail: uf.niss@gmail.com web: www.niss.gov.ua

International Conference

Ukraine – OUR EUROPEAN NEIGHBOURBratislava, Slovak Republic

September 28, 2009

AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY AND UKRAINE ON THE FACILITATION OF THE ISSUANCE OF VISAS

PRIVILEGED CATEGORIES OF UKRAINIAN CITIZENS:- Representative of Governments, Parlaments and Courts - Permanent member of official delegations - Close relative of a person resident in the EU - Businessmen, who regularly travel to the European Union - Journalists- Drivers conducting international cargo - Member of train, refrigerator and locomotive crew in international train- Persons participating in scientific, cultural and artistic activities, including university and other exchange programes, who regularly travel to the Member States;- Athletesand and persons accompanying them in a professional capacity- Pensioners - Disabled or persons accompanying them- Children (under the age of 21) - Pupils, students, teachers, who travel to the training goal

1.01. 2008 - entered into force Joint Committee(Art. 12 of Agreement), which consisted of: - officials of the Department of Consular Service of the MFA of Ukraine, - representatives of involved agencies of executive authority, -representatives of the General Directorate for Justice, Freedom and Security European Commission, - EC experts, - representatives of diplomatic and consular establishments of EU member states in Ukraine,- Ukrainian consortium of think tanks «Europe without barriers».

REGIONAL BRANCH OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES IN UZHGOROD

VISA POLICY OF HUNGARY AND SLOVAKIA IN CONSULAR ESTABLISHMENTS ON THE TERRITORY

OF TRANSCARPATHIAN REGION

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECTThe project was implemented under the public

initiative of the consortium of expert organizations "EUROPE WITHOUT BARRIERS"

and supported by the European Program of International Renaissance Foundation.

• HEAD OF THE PROJECT: Svitlana Mytryayeva

• MAIN PURPOSE: to provide an independent evaluation of the quality of implementation of the Agreement on Facilitation of Visa Issuance between Ukraine and EU by consulates of Hungary and Slovakia in the Transcarpathian region and determine its impact on visa policy and practice of these EU states.

• PERIOD OF MONITORING: - First stage: July-August 2008, - Second stage: November 2009 - Third stage: July 2009.

REGIONAL BRANCH OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES IN UZHGOROD

VISA POLICY OF HUNGARY AND SLOVAKIA IN CONSULAR ESTABLISHMENTS ON THE TERRITORY

OF TRANSCARPATHIAN REGION

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT• OBJECT OF RESEARCH:

- Visa policy of the General Consulate of the Hungary Republic in Uzhgorod, - Visa policy of the Consulate of the Hungary Republic in the Berehovo, - Visa policy of the General Consulate of the Slovak Republic in Uzhgorod.

• RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: І-ІІІ stages: - questioning applicants at the exit of the Consulate regarding their personal experience passing the whole visa application procedure. ІІІ stage: - included observation of the results of the documents submission for identifying "latent refusals" at the stage of submitting documents; - interviews concerning the current and previous experience of visa applications and travel to the EU.

•NUMBER OF POLLED RESPONDENTS: І-ІІ stages: 120, ІІІ stage: 1084, including: - 300 respondents within the questioning, - 754respondents within the included observation, - with 30 respondents conducted the interviews

REGIONAL BRANCH OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES IN UZHGOROD

VISA POLICY OF HUNGARY AND SLOVAKIA IN CONSULAR ESTABLISHMENTS ON THE TERRITORY

OF TRANSCARPATHIAN REGION

І. ANALYSIS OF GUESTIONING CONCERNING THE EXPERIENCE OF PASSING THE WHOLE VISA APPLICATION PROCEDURE

List of documents- Visa application- Photos- Residence registration- Invitation (Certificates of foreign Hungarian, letter of support from the Head of “KMKS” - Party of - Hungarians of Ukraine” or the Head of “Democratic Union of Hungarians in Ukraine”)- Confirmation of funds for transporting and accommodation: income statement, bank - statement concerning account etc.- Medical insurance

- Identity card (except passport): pension certificate, driver’s license, student ID etc.- Confirmation of employment- Other documents: identification code; documents that confirms the family ties, employment history; employment contract; the constituent documents of enterprise etc.

REGIONAL BRANCH OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES IN UZHGOROD

VISA POLICY OF HUNGARY AND SLOVAKIA IN CONSULAR ESTABLISHMENTS ON THE TERRITORY

OF TRANSCARPATHIAN REGION

І. ANALYSIS OF GUESTIONING CONCERNING THE EXPERIENCE OF PASSING THE WHOLE VISA APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Effectiveness of the visa application

95

97,5

99

94

96

87,5

95

94

92,5

0 20 40 60 80 100

І stage

ІІ stage

ІІІ stage

Stag

es

Number of respondents, who received visa (%)

Consulate General of theSlovak Republic in Uzhgorod

Consulate of the Republic ofHungary in Berehovo

Consulate General of theRepublic of Hungary inUzhgorod

REGIONAL BRANCH OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES IN UZHGOROD

VISA POLICY OF HUNGARY AND SLOVAKIA IN CONSULAR ESTABLISHMENTS ON THE TERRITORY

OF TRANSCARPATHIAN REGION

І. ANALYSIS OF GUESTIONING CONCERNING THE EXPERIENCE OF PASSING THE WHOLE VISA APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Consular fee

27,5

22,5

35

34

54

30

22,5

34

35

0 20 40 60

І stage

ІІ stage

ІІІ stage

Stag

es

Number of respondents, who received free of charge visa (%)

Consulate General of theSlovak Republic in Uzhgorod

Consulate of the Republic ofHungary in Berehovo

Consulate General of theRepublic of Hungary inUzhgorod

REGIONAL BRANCH OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES IN UZHGOROD

VISA POLICY OF HUNGARY AND SLOVAKIA IN CONSULAR ESTABLISHMENTS ON THE TERRITORY

OF TRANSCARPATHIAN REGION

І. ANALYSIS OF GUESTIONING CONCERNING THE EXPERIENCE OF PASSING THE WHOLE VISA APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Belonging to the privileged categories of citizens of Ukraine

52,5

60

76

20

74

82,5

22,5

83

67,5

0 20 40 60 80 100

І stage

ІІ stage

ІІІ stage

Stag

es

Number of respondents (%)

Consulate General of theSlovak Republic inUzhgorod

Consulate of the Republicof Hungary in Berehovo

Consulate General of theRepublic of Hungary inUzhgorod

REGIONAL BRANCH OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES IN UZHGOROD

VISA POLICY OF HUNGARY AND SLOVAKIA IN CONSULAR ESTABLISHMENTS ON THE TERRITORY

OF TRANSCARPATHIAN REGION

OFFICIAL STATISTICS:

REGIONAL BRANCH OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES IN UZHGOROD

VISA POLICY OF HUNGARY AND SLOVAKIA IN CONSULAR ESTABLISHMENTS ON THE TERRITORY

OF TRANSCARPATHIAN REGION

ISSUE OF SCHENGEN VISAS BY THE CONSULATE GENERAL OF THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC IN UZHGOROD (2008)

Application and visa issue I quarter II quarter

III quarter

ІV quarter

Total number of applications for В і С types of visa (units) 3955 3686 3526 3665

Total number of issued B & C types of visa (units)

3174 3402 3508 3575

including:

type В visa 8 217 416 167 type С visa 3166 3185 3092 3408Total number of visa refusals for В & С types (%) 14,36 7,92 5,98 3,46

Issue of multiple entry visas for 1 year 72 50 93 85Issue of multiple entry visas for 2 and 5-years 0 0 0 0Issue of free of charge visas(benefits categories of citizens) 850 1488 1132 1220

OFFICIAL STATISTICS:

REGIONAL BRANCH OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES IN UZHGOROD

VISA POLICY OF HUNGARY AND SLOVAKIA IN CONSULAR ESTABLISHMENTS ON THE TERRITORY

OF TRANSCARPATHIAN REGION

ISSUANCE OF SCHENGEN VISAS BY THE CONSULATE GENERAL OF THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC IN UZHGOROD IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2009

Acceptance of visa applications and the visa issue Iquarter

II quarter

Total number of applications for B and C and D visa types (un.)

2323 2942

The total number of issued B and C and D visa types (un.) 2211 2920

including:

В visa type 71 21

С visa type 1955 2719

D visa type 185 180

Total number of visa refusals of B and C and D types (%) 4,8 0,7

Effectiveness of submitting the document (ІІІ stage)

87

5

8

3

6

12

8

80

91

0 20 40 60 80 100

documents submitted

documents submitted but resondents were obliged to bring additional ones

documents were not accepted

Number of respondents (%)

Consulate General of theSlovak Republic inUzhgorod

Consulate of the Republicof Hungary in Berehovo

Consulate General of theRepublic of Hungary inUzhgorod

ІІ. ANALYSIS OF RESULTS OF INCLUDED OBSERVATION

REGIONAL BRANCH OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES IN UZHGOROD

VISA POLICY OF HUNGARY AND SLOVAKIA IN CONSULAR ESTABLISHMENTS ON THE TERRITORY

OF TRANSCARPATHIAN REGION

“latent refusals”

Reasons for non-acceptance of documents (ІІІ stage)

44

8

44

4

113

21

9

51

6

99

0 20 40 60 80 100

incomplete set ofdocuments

irregulardocumentaton

failure of oherrequirements

didn't respond

insufficient financialsupport

Number of respondents (%)

Consulate General of theSlovak Republic in Uzhgorod

Consulate of the Republic ofHungary in Berehovo

Consulate General of theRepublic of Hungary inUzhgorod

ІІ. ANALYSIS OF RESULTS OF INCLUDED OBSERVATION

REGIONAL BRANCH OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES IN UZHGOROD

VISA POLICY OF HUNGARY AND SLOVAKIA IN CONSULAR ESTABLISHMENTS ON THE TERRITORY

OF TRANSCARPATHIAN REGION

ІІІ. GENERALIZED ANALYSIS OF INTERVIEWSInterviews were conducted with those applicants who have experience in the visa application

Consulate before and after enlargement of the Schengen zone. From the point of view of respondents, visa procedures has undergone significant changes after entering Hungary and Slovakia into Schengen zone. This primarily concerns the consular fee (previously applicants didn’t pay for applying national visas). Respondents noted the positive changes in the work of: - Consulate General of the Slovak Republic in Uzhgorod, because in comparison with previous years applicants may deliver the missing documents without passing the whole visa procedure again; - significantly reduced the size and duration of lines near consulate; - consultations are carried out before submitting the documents with explanation to applicants the requirements and criteria for the visa applying in details. - General Consulate of the Republic of Hungary in Berehovo concerning the introduction of previous record of applicants by phone with the appointment of the certain time for the submitting documents and liquidation of lines near the Consulate as the result. Respondents noted negative changes in the work of the Consulate General of the Republic of Hungary in Uzhgorod as excessively increased the number of documents that should be submitted for visa applying for business cooperation. It is almost impossible to get individual tourist visa. The aims of visit to the Republic of Hungary and the Slovak Republic are following: visiting relatives, travel, shopping, business meetings, scientific and cultural activities, etc.

REGIONAL BRANCH OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES IN UZHGOROD

VISA POLICY OF HUNGARY AND SLOVAKIA IN CONSULAR ESTABLISHMENTS ON THE TERRITORY

OF TRANSCARPATHIAN REGION

Consulate2008 2009

I quarter II quarter III quarter ІV quarter I quarter II quarter

Consulate General of the Republic of Hungary in Uzhgorod

3594 3634 3763 2122 2599 2984

Consulate of the Republic of Hungary in Berehovo

5843 5186 5446 3080 2679 2930

Consulate General of the Slovak Republic in Uzhgorod

- - - 165 231 198

OFFICIAL STATISTICS :Permits on Local Border Traffic

REGIONAL BRANCH OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES IN UZHGOROD

VISA POLICY OF HUNGARY AND SLOVAKIA IN CONSULAR ESTABLISHMENTS ON THE TERRITORY

OF TRANSCARPATHIAN REGION

GENERAL CONCLUSIONS:• quality of implementation of the Agreement on Facilitation of Visa Issuance between EU and Ukraine remains at a high level in the EU consulates located in the Transcarpathian region. Especially in this context should be noted the qualitative changes of the Consulate General of the Slovak Republic in Uzhgorod; • awareness of respondents concerning the provisions of the Agreement increased significantly, particularly between privileged categories of citizens of Ukraine who have the right to receive free of charge and multiple entry visas; • Regardless of public awareness about the Agreement, consulates provide free of charge and multiple entry visas to privileged categories of citizens if the purpose of their travel consistent with the provisions of the Agreement and supporting documents submitted; • trend of increasing the number of issued long-term and multiple entry visas;• the percentage of visa refusals to applicants is currently negligible. Thus, if it remains approximately the same level in the consulates of Hungary, there was a significant reduction of this indicator in the Consulate of the Slovak Republic in comparison with the previous stages; • the set of necessary documents for the Schengen visa application for the Hungarian minority could be described as slightly modified, because instead of invitation and confirmation of funds for transporting and accommodation they just submit Certificates of foreign Hungarian, letter of support from the Head of “KMKS” - Party of Hungarians of Ukraine” or the Head of “Democratic Union of Hungarians in Ukraine”.

REGIONAL BRANCH OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES IN UZHGOROD

VISA POLICY OF HUNGARY AND SLOVAKIA IN CONSULAR ESTABLISHMENTS ON THE TERRITORY

OF TRANSCARPATHIAN REGION

PROPOSALS:• to promote the consolidation of the efforts of the state authorities of Ukraine for effective negotiations on further liberalization of visa regime with the EU and the conclusion and implementation of the “Road Map" to the symmetrical non-visa regime between the EU and Ukraine;

• to provide the constant monitoring of the quality implementation of the Agreement on Facilitation of Visa Issuance between Ukraine and EU and its impact on visa policies and practices of the EU countries;

• to introduce a monitoring of the quality implementation of Agreements on Local Border Traffic between Ukraine and Hungary, Ukraine and Slovakia, Ukraine and Poland and their impact on freedom of movement of border regions citizens. Without it the picture of liberalization of visa regime by EU for Ukraine looks incomplete;

• to provide the constant analysis of the impact of the Schengen zone enlargement to aggravation of interpersonal contacts between Ukraine and the new Schengen countries and to develop additional tools to minimize such deterioration;

• to provide the research and dissemination of experience of European countries in their struggle for freedom of movement within Europe for the deployment of such a campaign by institutions of civil society of Ukraine;

• to facilitate the integration of internal discussions on visa regime issues to European campaigns, projects and initiatives on this topic.

REGIONAL BRANCH OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES IN UZHGOROD

VISA POLICY OF HUNGARY AND SLOVAKIA IN CONSULAR ESTABLISHMENTS ON THE TERRITORY

OF TRANSCARPATHIAN REGION

AGENDA AND ORGANIZATION OF PUBLIC CAMPAIGN FOR VISA-FREE MOVEMENT BETWEEN UKRAINE AND EU

Campaigning for visa-free movement has:• based on the idea of the clear European identity of the Ukrainian people. According it the existence of the visa regime is contrary to the needs and values of European project, one component of which is freedom of movement; • deployed as part of international efforts for visa-free movement in Europe, not stopping only on the needs of Ukrainian society;• take into account the experience of countries that have received a visa-free regime following the appropriate conditions (Romania, Bulgaria), and those that stay together with Ukraine in the format "Visa dialogue" (Serbia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Russian Federation); • combine internal (Ukraine) and external (EC) components for simultaneous influence on decision-making centers in Ukraine and in the EU member states;• follow parallel courses in public (diplomatic) effort, taking into account the content, algorithms and phasing of these efforts; • accompanied by active support from the Ukrainian public of the authorities actions towards achievement the criteria of visa-free country by Ukraine in relations with EU.

VISA POLICY OF HUNGARY AND SLOVAKIA IN CONSULAR ESTABLISHMENTS ON THE TERRITORY

OF TRANSCARPATHIAN REGION

REGIONAL BRANCH OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES IN UZHGOROD

Ph.D. Svitlana MYTRYAYEVA DirectorRegional Branch of the National Institute for Strategic Studies in Uzhgorod

Universytetska str. 21/413, 88017 Uzhgorod, Ukrainetel.: +38 0312 64 44 51, fax: +38 0312 64 44 79e-mail: uf.niss@gmail.com web: www.niss.gov.ua

THANK YOUFOR ATTENTION!