EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - MEPs have strongly criticised both Washington and the go-it-alone attitude of several member states for opening bilateral talks on tightened travel security measures in return for visa-free travel. "We express our regret at Washington's choice to enter into bilateral agreements with the recent members of the EU," Italian MEP Claudio Fava, speaking on behalf of the socialists in the European Parliament, said on Wednesday (23 April), describing the move as "completely unacceptable". "The US must respect the union's political unity (...) We should also remind this to member states," Mr Fava added. A similar message was echoed by conservatives, the parliament's biggest group, with Polish MEP Urszula Gacek saying that Washington "cannot exert pressure on individual nations to break EU guidelines, especially in the sensitive areas such as revealing passenger information in greater detail than the EU allows".
After all, the individual states can argue that if each and every other country in the EU bends recommendations and agreements to suit themselves from time to time, why can't they ? So, if we want a united front, we need to unite a bit more. keep to the Fen Causeway
