Q: Why is visa-free travel such a big deal in politics?
There is currently a motion within the European Parliament to allow visa-free travel for Ukrainians. However for some reason I don't understand why it's such a big improvement - most Ukrainians who wanted to visit the Schengen area already have a visa, so it won't affect them. Likewise it won't significantly help Ukraine's economy as EU citizens can already travel there without a visa.
What are the reasons for treating a new visa-free agreement like a huge event?

A:Yes, many would see the visa-free travel to the EU as an important thing, and the key words here are: reputation, acknowledgement, and recognition.
The EU officials make a clear link between the Ukraine's elimination the corruption and organized crime and, on the other hand, receiving the visa-free travel.
Visa-free travel is often perceived as an ability to hand your passport to the Immigration officer on the border and get your entry permit.
But inside, the process is much more complicated.
During maybe one minute, the officer must get enough information about the traveler: their criminal record, for example.
When you apply for the visa normally, a Consulate does essentially the same, but they have dramatically more time than an officer at the border check.
So, visa-free essentially means that a country X trusts the country Y:
- integration of the databases between the countries;
- sharing the criminal and financial records and other similar data;
- recognition that these data are not forged;
- effective prosecution of people who are accused in corruption, organized crime, etc.;
- acknowledgement, formally declared in international agreements, plus hundreds of smaller technical regulations;
Ukraine Before
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