US irks EU by signing travel deal with Czechs

The European Union appears to have taken the US decision to arrange an exclusive travel accord with the Czech Republic without consulting with the EU and not offering this same accord to other member states as a major snub to European integration. The US has signed a deal with the Czech Republic that is expected to allow citizens of this East/Central European country visa-free travel to the US. The same privilege, however, is not being extended to a number of other EU states—especially in this region—whose citizens may still only travel to the US with a valid tourist visa. According to the BBC, visa-free travel may begin within a matter of months, provided that the Czechs are able to successfully implement higher security and screening procedures at their airports.

Franco Frattini, the EU’s justice commissioner, has indicate that the signing of this accord exclusively with one member state was “unacceptable” and even suggested that the European Commission may take “appropriate action” as a result of this unfavourable situation. Precisely what this may entail is unclear. However, the EU has suggested in the past that if Canada does not lift its visa requirements for all EU passport holders, Canadians too may need a visa to travel to Europe. It is possible that the commission may consider a similar approach when dealing with the US.

The European Commission is upset with the American arrangement, because according to EU guidelines, it is this body’s job to negotiate and establish visa policies with other countries. As such, the commission has recommended on numerous occasions that an appropriate and fair approach on the part of the United States would be to implement a full visa waiver for citizens of all EU countries. This, however, seems rather unlikely.