The document allows for automatic extension of the agreement to the end of 2025

The Agreement on the Liberalization of Freight Transport between Ukraine and the European Union has been extended for another year, with the possibility of an automatic extension until the end of the 2025. In a message from the Ministry of Recovery, states.

The extension of the Agreement was signed by Serhiy D. Derkach, Deputy Minister for Community Development, Territories and Infrastructure, and Adina Veljan, EU Commissioner for Transport, on June 20, in Brussels.

As mentioned, the visa-free regime for transport cargo will allow you to conduct bilateral and transit cargo transport without a permit.

The updated document also contains a number obligations for both Ukrainian carriers and European carriers.

• The need for all drivers in a vehicle to have a valid license or other supporting documents;
• Marking of trucks that carry out transportation in accordance to the agreement
• Carriers who follow empty goods must provide supporting documents for the goods that they plan to bring

A special working group is also being formed to analyze the impact the agreement will have on the market. The group will include representatives from Ukraine and the EU.

Ukraine is demonstrating the practical results of its integration into the EU’s economic and logistic space. One of these steps is the extension of ‘transport visa free regime’. It will increase the exports to EU countries and make us more sustainable economically. The permit-free freight transport will also speed up the delivery of goods and components to Ukrainian entrepreneurs in order to develop their own production.

According to Serhiy Drückach, the agreement not only has a positive effect on the EU market, but it is also necessary for Ukraine. So, imports of goods from the European Union into Ukraine have increased by over 45% in comparison to 2021. The exports of domestic goods via road also increased by 45 percent.

According to the relevant agency, prior to the full-scale invasion by Russia, road transport between Ukraine and the EU relied on a fixed number permits. In June 2022 the EU and Ukraine signed a visa-free transport regime, which has helped to ensure the sustainability of the transportation in the face of the destruction of viable logistics routes.

The EU Council finally approved extending the duty-free trading regime for Ukraine by another 12 months on May 13, 2024. This means that the trade Visa-Free Regime>> will now be applicable until June 2025.