The visa regime for EU and North-American citizens
EU might introduce visas for US and Canadian citizens
Bogdan Matei, 08.04.2016, 13:16
Never in its history has the EU been more vulnerable as today, within a month of the bloody attacks in Brussels, and two days after the negative result of the referendum in the Netherlands on the Association Agreement with Ukraine. European media see the result as a new signal of rejection for Europe. According to the US press, the Dutch rejected a trade agreement due to their bitterness towards the EU. Adding to this tension is the forthcoming referendum in the UK on this countrys EU membership.
Against this delicate backdrop, Europe is trying to regain its cohesion, while Brussels is now standing up for its members in their relations with US partners. International media speculate the EU might introduce visas for US and Canadian citizens traveling to the community area, in response to Washington and Ottawas reluctance to lift the visa regime on some EU citizens. The United States and Canada still require travel visas for citizens of Romania and Bulgaria, two countries that joined the EU in 2007. The US has also excluded Croatia, Cyprus and Poland from the Visa Waiver Program.
EU officials now call for a political debate in order to solve this urgent matter. The debate might be held as early as Tuesday, a week ahead of the visit US president Barack Obama is scheduled to pay to Europe. The US president will take part in negotiations regarding a bilateral treaty between the EU and the US in terms of trade and investments. This could be the biggest trade agreement in history, which both sides believe will very likely be adopted by the end of Obamas term in office, in January 2017.
On the other hand, introducing visas for Americans and Canadians could negatively impact the European tourist industry, already shaken by terrorist threats. “There are many questions regarding this treaty, and no one can say exactly how this story is going to end. We hope to persuade Obama to accept as many of our terms as possible, an MEP has told the press.
For Romania, not being part of the visa Waiver casts a dark reflection on its relations with the US. The two countries are allies within NATO and bound by a strategic bilateral partnership. Romania is home to major US military bases and economic investments. Ever since the 19th century, North America has been home to large Romanian communities, which today total some 500 thousand people. Political pundits say all these aspects compel US authorities to take immediate action to lift visas for Romanian citizens.
(translated by: Vlad Palcu)
