Brussels, 20/10/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 19 October, US President George W. Bush announced that nationals from six new EU countries travelling to the United States for up to 90 days will no longer be required to have a visa. In a statement made at the White House, Bush said the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia had “met the requirements to be admitted to the United States Visa Waiver Program” (VWP). He said that, in return, the six countries had agreed to share information with the United States to combat terrorism. “Soon, the citizens of these nations will be able to travel to the United States for business or tourism without a visa,” he added. It is likely that there will no longer be a need for a visa within about a month, he said, all but confirming 17 November as the date for the extension of the VWP to include these new countries. The US President said the process would remain open for the last six EU members, which still require visas (Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Malta, Poland and Romania), to be able to join the scheme. Malta hopes to be able to join the VWP before the end of the year, but the others may have to wait a bit longer. Greek Ambassador to Washington Alexandros Mallias expressed his regret at the news, saying that this was not a good day for Greece or the Greek community in the United States. “Greece had to be the first country to enter the program,” he stated. The announcement also disappointed the Polish authorities, which hopes that the incoming US administration will make Poland's inclusion in the VWP a priority. “We will continue to work with the US authorities to secure the same treatment for all European citizens,” said European Justice, Freedom and Security Commissioner Jacques Barrot, following Bush's announcement. The issue of visa waiver reciprocity has for several years been a subject of some contention between the US and the European Union (see EUROPE 9760 and 9762). (B.C./transl.rt)