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The European Parliament on Thursday adopted a resolution calling on the European Commission to present a legal act to suspend for 12 months the right of US citizens not to have a visa to enter the EU.
“Parliament approved on Thursday a resolution with 376 votes in favor, 269 against and 43 abstentions urging the Commission to introduce a legal act that establishes a twelve-month suspension of the visa exemption for US citizens, as established in the so-called reciprocity mechanism.
Bulgarian, Croatian, Cypriot and Romanian citizens are still required to have a visa to enter the US, while all other EU citizens are exempt from this obligation for short stays (maximum 90 days in any 180 day period ). days), as well as US citizens when visiting the European Union.
According to EU law, if a third country does not remove the visa requirement within 24 months from the date of official notification of a situation of non-reciprocity, the Commission must adopt a legal act suspending the exemption from the obligation of their nationals. have a visa for a period of 12 months. Both the European Parliament and the Council could oppose such an act (Article 290 (2) of the EU Treaty), “read a statement from the European Parliament.
Also read: Croatia, closer to entering the Visa Waiver Program
The non-reciprocity situation affecting Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania was officially discussed on April 12, 2014 (at that time, Poland was also affected, but Polish citizens can travel to the United States without a visa last year .), for which the Commission’s deadline for action expired on April 12, 2016, is also transmitted by Parliament.
Parliament has already asked the Commission to abide by the rules in a resolution adopted in plenary in March 2017.
Juan Fernando López Aguilar (S&D, Spain), President of the Civil Liberties Commission and Rapporteur, said: “Discrimination against Bulgarian, Croatian, Cypriot and Romanian citizens traveling to the United States is unacceptable. Respecting the fundamental principle of solidarity between members of the EU, we call on the Commission to act in accordance with European law and present a proposal to suspend the visa waiver for US citizens. It will then be up to Parliament and the Council to assess the political consequences of this action. “
About Romania, Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu, who was in Washington on Monday, raised the issue of the Visa Waiver in talks with US Foreign Minister Mike Pompeo.
“I underlined the great interest of Romania in being included in the Visa Waiver program, given the importance of strengthening personal ties between people, but also in business. We agree to continue future cooperation and coordination on this issue of common interest, for the benefit direct from our citizens, ”Bogdan Aurescu wrote on Twitter.
Editing: Alexandru Costea
