USA/EU: Visa Waiver in balance

The European Parliament’s civil liberties committee has voted to block visa-free travel by US citizens to EU countries in the schengen zone. This follows the refusal of US immigration authorities to allow visa-free travel for citizens of five EU countries – Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Poland and Romania.

The vote will not, in itself, reintroduce visas – but the European Commission is obliged to act on the resolution within two months. At that point, however, the council of ministers could object to any chosen measures – thus delaying any decision until a US-EU ministerial meeting on June 15th.

If the Council did not object to a proposed Commission measure to reintroduce visas (or the production of equivalent travel documents) then it would mean that US citizens will have to apply in advance to travel to the EU Schengen area (but not the UK) for the 12 months after the order is made.

 

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