The European Commission has raised the stakes in its tussle with Washington over visas by suggesting that from the beginning of next year US diplomats be required to apply for a visa for t ravel to the European Union. Brussels' move is prompting by frustration at the US government over the slow pace of talks on granting all EU citizens visa-free travel to the United States. Travel between Europe and the US is set to remain a hot topic for the coming months "No tangible progress has been made regarding the United States despite all efforts of the commission and individual member states," the commission said on Wednesday (23 July). "Therefore, the commission will propose retaliatory measures e.g. temporary restoration of the visa requirement for US nationals holding diplomatic and service or official passports as of 1 January, 2009 if no progress is achieved."
The European Commission has raised the stakes in its tussle with Washington over visas by suggesting that from the beginning of next year US diplomats be required to apply for a visa for t ravel to the European Union.
Brussels' move is prompting by frustration at the US government over the slow pace of talks on granting all EU citizens visa-free travel to the United States.
Travel between Europe and the US is set to remain a hot topic for the coming months
"No tangible progress has been made regarding the United States despite all efforts of the commission and individual member states," the commission said on Wednesday (23 July).
"Therefore, the commission will propose retaliatory measures e.g. temporary restoration of the visa requirement for US nationals holding diplomatic and service or official passports as of 1 January, 2009 if no progress is achieved."
In the latest salvo of the EU-US tug-of-war over visa requirements, the European Commission has announced that it will begin requiring visas from US diplomats in 2009 if there is no progress in negotiations. The EU would like a little reciprocity when it comes to visa requirements. Euroepeans are already used to a number of requirements imposed by the US Department of Homeland Security in the waké of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. In a report released Thursday on "visa requirements in breach of the principle of reciprocity," the European Commission is proposing "retaliatory measures" that would force US diplomats to secure visas before entering EU countries. The report listed the United States among four countries - including Japan, Panama and Singapore - that had made no progress on reciprocity since the Commission's last report on the matter in September 2007. "Despite all efforts of the Commission and individual member states and the promises by the USA to include additional EU member states into the Visa Waiver Program this year," the report says, "no tangible progress has been made. Therefore, the Commission will propose retaliatory measures - e.g., temporary restoration of the visa requirement for US nationals holding diplomatic and service/official passports - as from 1 January 2009 if no progress is achieved."
In the latest salvo of the EU-US tug-of-war over visa requirements, the European Commission has announced that it will begin requiring visas from US diplomats in 2009 if there is no progress in negotiations.
The EU would like a little reciprocity when it comes to visa requirements. Euroepeans are already used to a number of requirements imposed by the US Department of Homeland Security in the waké of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. In a report released Thursday on "visa requirements in breach of the principle of reciprocity," the European Commission is proposing "retaliatory measures" that would force US diplomats to secure visas before entering EU countries.
The report listed the United States among four countries - including Japan, Panama and Singapore - that had made no progress on reciprocity since the Commission's last report on the matter in September 2007.
"Despite all efforts of the Commission and individual member states and the promises by the USA to include additional EU member states into the Visa Waiver Program this year," the report says, "no tangible progress has been made. Therefore, the Commission will propose retaliatory measures - e.g., temporary restoration of the visa requirement for US nationals holding diplomatic and service/official passports - as from 1 January 2009 if no progress is achieved."
Personally, knowing the way US immigration now works, I'd rather be denied a visa than be denied boarding, let alone entry after landing. At least with a visa you can do some planning. A vivid image of what should exist acts as a surrogate for reality. Pursuit of the image then prevents pursuit of the reality -- John K. Galbraith
Even though corporations could just get people visas just in case because they have the time and resources to do it they prefer visa-free travel.
This is not really about the average citizen or about protecting civil liberties since the Council came up with a regulation which was even worse than the one the Commission came up with the previous time, regarding data exchange. A vivid image of what should exist acts as a surrogate for reality. Pursuit of the image then prevents pursuit of the reality -- John K. Galbraith
