Commission responds to European Parliament’s resolution on visa reciprocity

Reports from the European Commission on visa reciprocity:

+ Progress report, 12 April 2016
+ Progress report, 13 July 2016
+ Progress report, 21 December 2016

The European Commission responded on 3 May 2017 to a resolution of the European Parliament urging the adoption of a delegated act suspending the visa waiver for Canadian and American nationals.

It was considered that negotiations had achieved a positive momentum and therefore it would not be appropriate to reintroduce visa requirements. The Commission highlighted that Canada was going to achieve full reciprocity by the end of the year, while negotiations had been relaunched with the United States.

The United States were notified in April 2014 of non-reciprocity regarding their visa policy concerning some EU member states. The deadline was in April 2016, but the Commission failed to take any measures. In turn, progress reports were produced on visa reciprocity.

• Primary Source

European Commission: DG Communication: MEMO/17/1149, 02.05.17: EU visa reciprocity mechanism - Questions and Answers http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-17-1149_en.htm

EUObserver, 03.05.17: EU keeps visa-free travel for US visitors https://euobserver.com/justice/137754

The New York Times, 02.05.17: EU Sets Aside Calls to End Visa-Free Travel for Americans https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/02/world/europe/eu-visas-united-states.html

EurActiv, 03.05.17: Commission will not require visas for US citizens as ‘retaliation’ http://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/commission-will-not-require-visas-for-us-citizens-as-retaliation/

EUObserver, 04.05.17: US questions visa waivers for EU nationals https://euobserver.com/justice/137769

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