European Parliament Votes to End Visa-Free Travel for Americans (Video)
The decision comes after the U.S. fails to agree to visa-free travel for citizens of five EU countries, officials say.
The European Parliament voted Thursday to require Americans to obtain visas to travel within the European Union after the United States failed to agree to visa-free travel for the citizens of five EU countries.
The Independent reports:
It comes after the US failed to agree visa-free travel for citizens of five EU countries – Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Poland and Romania – as part of a reciprocity agreement. US citizens can normally travel to all countries in the bloc without a visa.
The vote urges the revocation of the scheme within two months, meaning Americans will have to apply for extra documents for 12 months after the European Commission implements a “delegated act” to bring the change into effect.
The Commission discovered three years ago that the US was not meeting its obligations under the reciprocity agreement but has not yet taken any legal action. The latest vote, prepared by the civil liberties committee and approved by a plenary session of parliament, gives the Commission two months to act before MEPs can consider action in the European Court of Justice.
Australia, Brunei, Japan and Canada were also failing in their obligations, but all four have lifted, or are soon to lift, any visa restrictions on travel for EU citizens.
The Commission is legally obliged to act to suspend the visa waiver for Americans, but the European Parliament or the Council of the European Union have the chance to object to the “delegated act” it uses to do so.
Read more here.
—Posted by Alexander Reed Kelly
You know the story. Independent journalism is under threat and overshadowed by heavily funded mainstream media. During this holiday season, you can help level the playing field. Become a member.
Your tax-deductible contribution keeps us digging beneath the headlines to give you thought-provoking, investigative reporting and analysis that unearth what's really happening- without compromise. Give today to support our courageous, independent journalists.
As always, we wish you truth, reason and the best of the season!
Politics
A breakdown of where the Republican presidential candidates stand on U.S. immigration policy.
Politics
Denial has given way to panic as Biden's low popularity paints a grim outlook for the Democratic Party in 2024.
TD Column
There is no longer any room for debate.
Politics
A poll released Sunday shows Biden behind Trump in 5 key battleground states for the looming 2024 presidential election.
Politics
We should prepare now for the looming crisis of election denials, threats of violence, and an ever-more authoritarian Republican party.
Politics
Stephen Miller and others are actively planning to consolidate all power in the executive and staff the bureaucracies with far-right lackeys.