Close X
Sunday, November 24, 2024
ADVT 
International

EU Again Delays Decision To Impose Visas For Canadians, Citing Progress

The Canadian Press, 14 Jul, 2016 12:32 PM
    OTTAWA — The European Commission has again pushed off a decision on whether to require Canadians to have a visa to enter the EU.
     
    The commission says it's now looking ahead to the Canada-EU summit this fall to see more progress on the issue of Canada removing visa restrictions on citizens of Romania and Bulgaria.
     
    The EU insists that since Canadians don't require visas to go to Europe, EU citizens should not need them to come to Canada.
     
    In April, the Commission urged the European Parliament and council to "take a position" on the issue by July 12 — but neither did.
     
    The commission notes that high-level political talks — including a visit last week by Canadian Immigration Minister John McCallum — have demonstrated progress, but they still want the issue resolved.
     
    Top EU interior affairs official Dimitris Avramopoulos says the commission will continue to apply pressure.
     
    "Achieving full visa waiver reciprocity for citizens of all member states is the objective for the European Commission and a fundamental principle of our common visa policy," he said in a statement Wednesday.
     
    To decide whether to lift visa requirements, the Canadian government looks at several factors including how many visa applications are refused as well as immigration violation rates.
     
    Officials from McCallum's department travelled to Romania last month to examine progress by that country and are making a similar trip to Bulgaria this month.
     
    Pressure to lift visas on those citizens is twofold.
     
    First, the Liberals recently announced they will lift visa requirements on Mexican nationals. And EU officials say if it can be done for Mexicans, it should be done for Europeans.
     
    Second, full ratification of the Canada-EU free trade agreement is at stake, with the possibility that Romania and Bulgaria will refuse to sign the deal if the visas remain.
     
     
    McCallum travelled to Brussels last week to smooth some ruffled diplomatic feathers on both counts.
     
    "Our dialogues underline the importance of the strong bonds between Canada and the European Union," McCallum and Avramopoulos said in a joint statement after the meeting.
     
    Officials from the immigration department have already travelled to Romania to assess issues on the ground there. They will be making a similar trip to Bulgaria this month.
     
    Canada and the EU are to hold a summit in Brussels this October.
     
    "The Commission looks forward to the EU-Canada Summit, which will take place on 27-28 October 2016, as the occasion to confirm tangible progress on the lifting of the visa requirement for Bulgarian and Romanian citizens," Wednesday's statement said. 

    MORE International ARTICLES

    US Introduces Bill To Bar Indian Companies From Hiring On H-1B Visas

    US Introduces Bill To Bar Indian Companies From Hiring On H-1B Visas
    A bipartisan group of two US lawmakers has introduced in the House of Representatives a legislation, which if passed by the Congress would prevent Indian companies from hiring IT professionals on H-1B and L1 work visas.

    US Introduces Bill To Bar Indian Companies From Hiring On H-1B Visas

    Pakistan A 'Friend Or Foe'? US Lawmakers To Debate

    Pakistan A 'Friend Or Foe'? US Lawmakers To Debate
    Tired of the alleged "double game" being played by Islamabad, American lawmakers have announced to hold a Congressional hearing next week to discuss whether Pakistan is a "friend or foe" of the US in the war on terror.

    Pakistan A 'Friend Or Foe'? US Lawmakers To Debate

    How To Get Away With 'Murder' - Clinton Style!

    America's top cop had called her "extremely careless" in guarding the nation's secrets. But Hillary Clinton couldn't care less as she sauntered down Air Force One emblazoned with the presidential seal with the Commander-in-Chief in tow.

    How To Get Away With 'Murder' - Clinton Style!

    US Expels 2 Russian Officials After Its Diplomat Attacked

    US Expels 2 Russian Officials After Its Diplomat Attacked
    "On June 17, we expelled two Russian officials from the United States to respond to this attack," State Department spokesman John Kirby said.

    US Expels 2 Russian Officials After Its Diplomat Attacked

    Pakistani PM Returns Home After Successful Open Heart Surgery

    Pakistani PM Returns Home After Successful Open Heart Surgery
    Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who had an open heart surgery at a London hospital in May, returned home on Saturday, officials said.

    Pakistani PM Returns Home After Successful Open Heart Surgery

    White People Must Listen To Fears Of African-Americans: Hillary Clinton

    White People Must Listen To Fears Of African-Americans: Hillary Clinton
    Calling for unity after deadly shooting in the US city of Dallas, presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton has said that white people must listen to African-Americans about "what it feels to live with fear and anxiety."

    White People Must Listen To Fears Of African-Americans: Hillary Clinton