Brussels, 12/09/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 10 September, the Greek foreign ministry confirmed that the US government had begun moves to include Greece in its programme exempting the nationals of certain countries from the need for visas, the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) (see EUROPE 9478). Members of the US administration will travel to Athens before the end of the year to continue the process of Greece's joining the programme, the ministry spokesman said. The US has still to announce the date from which the new measure will apply to Greek citizens. Of the 27 EU member states, 12 are currently excluded from the US VWP, a matter which is a source of some resentment in Europe, since US nationals can travel throughout the EU without needing to obtain a visa. Following the passing of a new law in the United States in August, five further member states - Cyprus, Greece Malta, Estonia and the Czech Republic - could join the VWP. This would still leave seven EU states sitting on the sideline: Poland, the Slovak Republic, Lithuania, Latvia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria. A reaction from the European Commission is expected on 18 September when it submits its 3rd report on visa reciprocity to the Justice and Home Affairs Council of Ministers. (bc)