Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko hopes that the European Commission in the first half of 2016 will submit recommendations to the European institutions on the abolition of the visa regime with Ukraine.

"I think all of us understand how important it is. It is the first tangible result of our cooperation with the EU and I hope that the European Commission will be ready to submit the legislative initiative on the abolishment of the visa regime with Ukraine in the first half of 2016," Poroshenko said at a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

"This is why I came to Brussels. So that as the result of the dialog all the obstacles should be eliminated and an announcement should be made tomorrow that Ukraine has fulfilled the criteria of the Visa Liberalization Action Plan," the president said.

He recalled that Ukraine had been waiting for this decision for seven years.

The head of state stressed that Ukraine would continue implementing systemic reforms in the area of justice, internal affairs and fight against corruption, including the functioning of anti-corruption and asset recovery agencies.

"Our success on the track of reforms is the only guarantee of positive decision by the European Parliament on the introduction of the visa-free regime. We should understand that it is an important stage," the president said.