MEPs demand visas obligations for Americans this year

AMERICANS coming to Europe from this spring could be forced to apply for visas to visit in a tit-for-tat measure by the European Parliament.

MEPs passed a resolution asking the European Commission to make visas obligatory for Americans within two months, initially for a one-year period, because America is not allowing visa-free travel for people from five EU countries.

MEPs say the commission was notified in April 2014 that the USA was requiring visas for citizens of Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Poland and Romania – as the restriction is still in place two years later, sanctions are appropriate they say.

Canada also imposes restrictions on people from Bulgaria and Romania but has said it will lift them by the end of the year.

The commission is ‘legally obliged’ to take the measures against the USA, MEPs said in a statement.

In theory the deadline will expire in May, however if America gives a pledge to change its policy shortly it is likely the measure will not be imposed – thus avoiding difficulties for Americans planning trips to France this year.