Brussels, 28/07/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 24 July, the European Commission declared that it was convinced that its threat to re-introduce visa obligations for US diplomats travelling to the EU would help to get the restrictions still imposed by Washington on certain European countries, lifted. At the end of a meeting of EU interior ministers in Brussels, Jacques Barrot, the European Commissioner for Justice, Freedom and Security informed the press that, “this is a warning, which gives a number of reasons to suggest that it will have some effect”. On Wednesday 23 July, the Commission threatened the US with retaliation measures as from 1 January 2009, in an effort to get the country to remove its visa obligation on 12 EU member states (EUROPE 9708). Mr Barrot explained that, “this decision could be taken if no progress is made” and is expected to be taken by EU member states. The subject was discussed by ministers during a working lunch. Barrot added that, “two member states have said that they have had information on visa waivers being announced at the end of the year”. Mr Barrot concluded that, “not all member states will have visa waivers but we do hope that a certain number of them will benefit from them”. Eight new EU member states may soon benefit from the US visa waiver programme (EUROPE 9709). (B.C/trans/rh)