EU considers scrapping visa waiver for North American visitors

The European Commission is considering a one-year retaliatory suspension of its Schengen visa waiver for visitors from the US and Canada, leading to concern among North America's outbound holiday industry community.

The Council of Ministers and the European Parliament says the proposed move is in response to the US denying citizens of newer EU members Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Poland and Romania entry to its visa waiver program; Canada doesn't allow visa-free travel for citizens of Bulgaria and Romania.

A decision by the European Parliament is expected by July 12.

The UK opted out of the Schengen agreement and has separate visa-waiver agreements with the US and Canada. It therefore is not affected by the EU's initiative.

EU considers scrapping visa waiver for North American visitors

The European Commission is considering a one-year retaliatory suspension of its Schengen visa waiver for visitors from the US and Canada, leading to concern among North America's outbound holiday industry community.

The Council of Ministers and the European Parliament says the proposed move is in response to the US denying citizens of newer EU members Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Poland and Romania entry to its visa waiver program; Canada doesn't allow visa-free travel for citizens of Bulgaria and Romania.

A decision by the European Parliament is expected by July 12.

The UK opted out of the Schengen agreement and has separate visa-waiver agreements with the US and Canada. It therefore is not affected by the EU's initiative.