Brussels - The European Union on Wednesday launched talks with Ukraine on allowing Ukrainian citizens to travel to the EU without visas, with Kiev targeting a result before 2012.

"This is a very important event in Ukraine-EU relations. ... For us it's absolutely clear that this should be done not in decades but in years: it's essentially important to finish this process before 2012," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Volodymyr Ogryzko said.

His host at the meeting in Brussels, EU Justice Commissioner Jacques Barrot, refused to set a deadline for conclusion of the talks, but said that they would cover document security, illegal immigration, public order and security, and foreign relations.

The EU "counts heavily on Ukraine's role in fighting organized crime, human trafficking and money-laundering, so we wish Ukraine to have a strong, independent justice system," he said.

Ukraine abolished visa requirements for EU citizens when it hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in 2005. Ukrainian citizens have enjoyed a facilitated visa regime into the EU since January.

Such a visa facilitation agreement also provides a lower cost of visas - 35 euros (45 dollars) instead of 60 euros - but Ogryzko stressed that problems remain.

But some EU member states still set their visa fees too high, Barrot confirmed, warning such member states that "I will launch infraction procedures if necessary."

Since the accession of former-Communist countries such as Poland and the Baltic States in 2004, the EU has been keen to boost its ties with Ukraine - an eagerness which became more marked following this summer's war between Russia and Georgia.

The EU is currently considering how to offer Georgia an easier visa regime. (dpa)