MEPs fight for visas

The European Parliament passed a resolution last Thursday calling on the United States to lift tourist-visa restrictions on EU member states. The legislative body said that negotiations on visas should be conducted with the EU rather than through bilateral agreements.

With the exception of Slovenia, all EU member states which have joined since 2004 are currently excluded from the US Visa Waiver program. Among older EU members, only Greece is excluded.

MEPs admonished six EU countries - the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia - which have conducted bilateral negotiations with the US. They noted that the nations shouldn't compromise the authority of the whole bloc by acting alone.

Also included in the resolution was a call for the European Commission to safeguard the rights of HIV-positive travellers, allowing them to take part in the Visa Waiver program, which currently excludes them.