Washington could soon scrap visa requirements for Greeks, Czechs and Estonians

Brussels, 08/02/2008 (Agence Europe) - An official at the US Department of Homeland Security said on Wednesday 6 February that the United States could lift visa requirements for Greek, Czech and Estonian nationals by the end of the year. With the European Union not requiring US nationals to hold visas to visit the 27 countries of the EU, the United States, last year, began moves to come more into line with the Union, by adopting legislation to allow the extension of the visa-free system, the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP), to the 12 EU countries not yet part of the scheme (see EUROPE 9478). Greece, the Czech Republic and Estonia could join the VWP soon after an electronic system, the Electronic Travel Authority (ETA), is put in place. This automatic system for collecting information on travellers (the EU intends to set up a similar system) will be up and running in August or September, according to Richard Barth, Assistant Secretary for the Office of Policy Development. “We are very close to a final agreement,” Barth said after talks with Czech government officials, Reuters reports. While there are still obstacles to be overcome, none are expected to prevent the three countries from joining the VWP this year, Barth added. The Czech Foreign Ministry said that talks on a memorandum of understanding on joining the VWP could be completed during the visit of Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek to Washington on 27 February. Barth said that the United States was continuing discussions with the other EU members, although it was not sure when these countries would be able to join the visa exemption scheme. In September 2007, the European Commission adopted a report on visa reciprocity between the EU and third countries. It said at the time that it would not be appropriate to impose retaliatory measures on the United States, but that it would consider such a course of action if there was no movement towards full visa reciprocity (see EUROPE 9503). The Commission's next report on visa reciprocity with third countries is due on 30 June 2008. (B.C.)