US gets own way in visa negotiations[fr][de] 

While the two sides agreed that the final goal should be to ensure visa-free travel to the US for all European citizens, Washington refused to grant this on a bloc-wide basis, saying it had to ensure that each individual country fulfils its stringent security requirements. 

"We do make this determination on a nation-by-nation basis. We have to measure not only intent, but actual accomplishment," US Secretary for Homeland Security Michael Chertoff said after the meeting. 

The US nevertheless agreed to pursue a "twin-track approach", whereby it will first work with the Commission on a visa waiver scheme for all member states before finalising deals with national capitals. "Those matters that fall within national responsibilities will be discussed with national authorities while those that fall within EU responsibility will be discussed with EU authorities," read a joint statement released after the meeting. 

"When a given field falls under EU responsibility, our American friends accepted to have talks with EU institutions," said EU Justice and Security Commissioner Franco Fratttini.

A key concern for the Commission is that bilateral deals of the sort already signed by the Czech Republic, Estonia and Latvia not only undermine the EU's unity, giving less clout to the its bargaining position, but could also violate Union rules on aviation security and data protection (EurActiv 13/03/08). 

Indeed, the three accords concluded so far contain terms denounced as "unacceptable" by the EU executive, including the mandatory placement of armed marshals on board all transatlantic flights operated by US carriers, or the obligation to transfer more data on air passengers to US anti-terror authorities than is currently required under an existing EU-US agreement (EurActiv 29/06/07). 

The EU and the US nevertheless said they hoped to conclude discussions on an EU-wide programme, including the establishment of an "Electronic System for Travel Authorisation" (ESTA) by June 2008. The scheme would enable visa-free travel for all citizens, provided that they answer an online questionnaire before boarding a plane for the United States. 

"But that does not conclude the issue," Chertoff commented, adding: "At the end, the standards have to be met. Some states are very close to meeting them, and may very well meet them before the end of the year, but I can't guarantee you that every state will." 

In the meantime, Washington will pursue its discussions with some of the nine other member states currently excluded from the US visa waiver programme, including Hungary, Lithuania and Slovakia.