The first stage of consultations on simplifying EU visa procedures for Uzbek nationals to work, study, truck drivers, and for tourism purposes took place in Tashkent between the Foreign Ministry and the European Commission's Directorate-General for Home Affairs and Migration, Dunyo News Agency said.
Reportedly, the European officials outlined a number of conditions that must be met for the visa facilitation for Uzbek nationals to be included on the agenda of European Commission meetings., At the meeting the parties agreed to hold similar consultations to expedite the achievement of the goal of visa facilitation.
In October, Uzbekistan and the European Union signed the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement..
EU Ambassador to Uzbekistan Toivo Klaar said in November that negotiations on visa facilitation could begin in the future. He emphasized that progress on this issue depended on bilateral relations between Uzbekistan and the EU and Uzbek nationals' compliance with visa regulations in EU countries.
"If nationals comply with visa regulations and stay periods, this will create a good basis for further steps," the ambassador underscored.
