Europeans to face tighter travel rules
The system is expected to enter into use in August, and become mandatory in January (Photo: EUobserver.com)
RENATA GOLDIROVA
03.06.2008 @ 07:14 CET
The US is set to further tighten its border security in a move that will see all Europeans - currently enjoying a visa-free regime with Washington - registering online before flying across the Atlantic.
According to the Financial Times, US Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff will announce on Tuesday (3 June) the creation of an electronic registration system, designed to collect data on passengers no later than 72 hours before their departure.
Washington says that an online registration form will require the same amount of information as is currently provided by all travellers by filling out the I-94 immigration form. The subsequent authorisation to travel should be valid for multiple entries for two years.
"History has shown that it is naive to assume a traveller from a [visa waiver] country automatically constitutes a lesser threat than a visa applicant who has undergone greater scrutiny prior to travel,", an US official was cited as saying by the FT.
"There is also a concern about radicalisation in Europe and that Europe could be a platform for striking at the US," the representative added in relation to the procedure, which is expected to enter into use this August, but will become mandatory only in January next year.
The European Commission was informed about the planned US announcement on Monday (2 June), the FT reports, with EU home affairs commissioner requesting further written information.
At the moment, 15 EU member states are part of the US visa-waiver programme. The remaining 12 countries, mainly from Central and Eastern Europe, wish to be a part of it.
Some - the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta and Slovakia - have already signed bilateral agreements with Washington aimed at securing visa-free travel to the US.
The group of EU states, along with the European Commission, are currently involved in talks on US-proposed travel security measures, including an electronic system of travel authorisation, in return for visa-free travel.
The commission has previously indicated that comparable security obligations are likely to be eventually imposed on the Americans. Australia already requires an online registration for all passengers travelling there.
