The European Union and Ukraine have reached an agreement to extend the Agreement on the Liberalization of Freight Transport, known as the ‘transport visa-free’ arrangement, for another 15 months. This information was officially confirmed by the Ministry of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine and the European Commission.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Conditions of the ‘Transport Visa-Free’ for Carriers
Thanks to this decision, Ukrainian and European carriers will continue to be able to carry out bilateral and transit freight transport without the need to obtain separate special permits. This innovation will remain in effect at least until March 31, 2027, which will help strengthen trade relations between Ukraine and EU countries.
“Thus, the ‘transport visa-free’ arrangement will be in effect at least until March 2027. This means that Ukrainian carriers and carriers from the European Union will still not need special permits to carry out bilateral and transit transport,” stated the Ministry of Community Development.
Impact of Liberalization on Ukraine’s Economy
The head of the Ministry of Community and Territorial Development, Oleksii Kuleba, emphasized that the majority of Ukrainian exports with added value are transported by road. During the period of this agreement, the share of trade between Ukraine and the EU conducted by road has increased by almost 55%. According to Kuleba, the liberalization of transport ensures the resilience of bilateral trade and is beneficial for both parties.
The European Commission also confirmed the validity of the ‘transport visa-free’ arrangement until March 31, 2027, and emphasized that the agreement has significantly boosted road trade between Ukraine and the European Union, benefiting the economies of both partners.
It is worth noting that the Agreement on the Liberalization of Freight Transport between Ukraine and the EU was first signed in June 2022. It was already extended in April 2025 until the end of that year, and the current extension will ensure further development of transport cooperation.