Brussels, 02/04/2008 (Agence Europe) - Justice and Home Affairs experts from member states will examine a revised negotiations mandate on Thursday 3 April. This will be based on a new European Commission proposal and aims to obtain an agreement with the US on the US Visa Waiver Program (VWP) (EUROPE 9622). Coreper will examine the mandate on Wednesday 9 April.
The US has already signed bilateral agreements with six member states (Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovak Republic and Hungary) so that they can benefit form VWP but it is very reticent about negotiating with the Union on behalf of all the other countries. Two weeks ago, during a meeting in Washington, the US put pressure on member states that had signed bilateral agreements to not accept the European Commission's negotiating brief. Following a meeting with representatives from the US Home Security Department and EU27 representatives, one diplomat declared, “the fact is that the US does not want to enter negotiations with the EU. Suddenly, the Europeans are retreating”. The diplomat added, “the US considers that negotiation with the EU would be useful in the future to have access to data bases such as the Schengen Information System and the information system on visas. But for the instant, it is not making a link between the ongoing bilateral negotiations”. The US is now urging six member state signatories to conclude agreements on technical implementation, even though they include several points contained in the exclusive remit of the European Community. These member states are afraid that the US will end the benefits of the VWP by the end of the year. The US therefore appears to be in a strong position. On expert stated, “we should not, however, forget that the US is short on time. The US presidential election is approaching and if this dossier is not resolved in time, everything will have to begin from scratch”. (B.C)