Press Release: Lack of visa reciprocity with the US, Canada and Brunei: European Commissions assesses state of play and discusses next steps

The European Commission adopted on 12 April 2016 a political Communication on the state of play and way forward as regards the situation of non-reciprocity with certain third countries in the area of visa policy. While with Japan full reciprocity was achieved in December 2015 and with Australia in June 2015, the U.S., Canada and Brunei continued to apply visa requirements for citizens of some EU Member States, despite their citizens benefiting from an EU-wide visa waiver.

Visa waiver reciprocity is a principle of the EU’s common visa policy and, under EU rules adopted by the European Parliament and Council in 2001, if, within 24 months, non-reciprocity by third countries is not corrected then this can be cause for suspending the visa waiver for citizens of those third countries. Any such decision must take into account the consequences of the suspension of the visa waiver for the external relations of the EU and its Member States. The Commission has an obligation to react once the 24 month period expires. In the case of the U.S., Canada and Brunei, that deadline, set by the EU legislator, was been reached on 12 April 2016. This is why the Commission therefore invited the European Parliament and the European Council to urgently launch discussions and to take a position on the most appropriate way forward in light of the assessment provided by the Commission and to inform the Commission on their respective positions by 12 July 2016 at the latest.

• Primary Source

European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: MEMO/16/1346, 12.04.16: EU visa reciprocity mechanism - Questions and Answers http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-16-1346_en.htm

ESO: Background information: The European Commission assesses the situation of visa non-reciprocity with certain third countries http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-the-european-commission-assesses-the-situation-of-visa-non-reciprocity-with-certain-third-countries/

Politico, 12.04.16: EU to decide by July on US, Canada visas http://www.politico.eu/article/eu-to-decide-by-july-on-us-canada-visa-requirements/

European Commission: DG Migration and Home Affairs: Schengen, Borders & Visas: Visa policy http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/what-we-do/policies/borders-and-visas/visa-policy/index_en.htm

EurActiv, 14.04.16: Romania will veto the EU-Canada trade deal http://www.euractiv.com/section/trade-society/news/romania-will-veto-the-eu-canada-trade-deal/

The Wall Street Journal, 08.04.16: U.S. Faces Threat of Losing EU Visa Waivers http://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-faces-threat-of-losing-eu-visa-waivers-1460120636

TIME, 07.04.16: E.U. Threatens to Require Americans to Get Visas, Report Says http://time.com/4284875/eu-visa-united-states-canada/

Deutsche Welle, 08.04.16: European Union to consider reimposition of visas against the US and Canada next week http://dw.com/p/1ISI4

EurActiv, 08.04.16: EU may require visas from Americans and Canadians https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/eu-may-require-visas-from-americans-and-canadians/

EUObserver, 08.04.16: EU and US edge toward visa fiasco https://euobserver.com/justice/132983

EUObserver, 08.04.16: Visa waiver dispute hangs over EU-US relations https://euobserver.com/foreign/132977

Novinite, 09.04.16: Canada Not to Backtrack as EU Calls for Visa Waiver for Bulgaria, Romania http://www.novinite.com/articles/173952/Canada+Not+to+Backtrack+as+EU+Calls+for+Visa+Waiver+for+Bulgaria,+Romania

Balkan Insight, 11.04.16: EC Calls for Visa Removal for Bulgaria, Romania http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/ec-calls-for-visa-removal-for-bulgaria-romania-04-10-2016-1

EurActiv, 11.04.16: CETA ratification hangs in doubt over visa-free travel dispute https://www.euractiv.com/section/trade-society/news/ceta-ratification-hangs-in-doubt-over-visa-free-travel-dispute/

The Wall Street Journal, 12.04.16: EU Seeks Views on Response to U.S. Visa Rules for Some Europeans http://www.wsj.com/articles/eu-seeks-views-on-proposed-action-over-visa-waivers-by-july-12-1460471852

The New York Times, 12.04.16: E.U. Delays Decision on Requiring Visas of Americans and Canadians http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/13/world/europe/eu-visas-us-canada.html

EUObserver, 12.04.16: EU counts cost of US visa war https://euobserver.com/foreign/133020

Politico, 07.04.16: EU considers restricting visa-free travel for Americans, Canadians http://www.politico.eu/article/eu-considers-restricting-visa-free-travel-for-americans-canadians/

Politico, 20.04.16: MEPs demand EU action on visa waivers for Americans, Canadians http://www.politico.eu/article/meps-demand-eu-action-on-visa-waivers-for-americans-canadians/

EUObserver, 22.04.16: EU chokes on US visa dispute https://euobserver.com/foreign/133179

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