Luxemburg, 18/04/2008 (Agence Europe) - The Commission will soon be able to open negotiations with the United States to have the 12 member states which are not so far part of the US visa exemption programme become part of it. On Friday the Council adopted a negotiating mandate which will allow the Commission, with effect from Monday, to begin talks with the United States on the US electronic system of travel authorisation (ESTA), and on information exchange. For the moment, Washington does not want negotiations on the ESTA, only discussions, said a diplomat. He said that there could, however, be negotiations on what was included in Community databases (SIS, VIS), as long as there was reciprocity from the Americans. The US administration is negotiating separately with member states and has already signed Memoranda of Understanding with seven (the Czech Republic, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Hungary, Slovakia and Malta). The European delegation's trip to Washington will be the opportunity for the Commission to see if the implementing protocols are in line with Community law. (B.C.)