Close X
Monday, November 25, 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

    British MP Jo Cox Dies After Being Shot And Stabbed, Man Arrested

    British MP Jo Cox Dies After Being Shot And Stabbed, Man Arrested
    Jo Cox, a member of the British parliament, died after being shot in northern England,  UK police have said.

    British MP Jo Cox Dies After Being Shot And Stabbed, Man Arrested

    Indian Jailed For 14 Months In Cambodia

    Indian Jailed For 14 Months In Cambodia
    A Cambodian court on Thursday sentenced an Indian man to 14 months in prison for sexually abusing an underage girl, an anti-pedophile agency said.

    Indian Jailed For 14 Months In Cambodia

    How Homophobia Has Complicated The Grieving Process In Orlando

    ORLANDO, United States — As families prepare to bury the dead from Orlando's massacre, Rob Domenico describes an additional layer of grief lingering overhead.

    How Homophobia Has Complicated The Grieving Process In Orlando

    US Senate Exposed Hollowness Of Modi's Claims: Congress

    US Senate Exposed Hollowness Of Modi's Claims: Congress
    The Congress on Thursday sought to puncture claims on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's successful tour of the United States, saying the US Senate finally "exposed the hollowness and the falsity of the claims" made by Modi and his propagandists.

    US Senate Exposed Hollowness Of Modi's Claims: Congress

    First Sikh Sworn-In As Police Officer In US City

    First Sikh Sworn-In As Police Officer In US City
    Varinder Khun Khun, who was born in India, graduated from the Napa Police Academy on June 11 along with two other officers. 

    First Sikh Sworn-In As Police Officer In US City

    Pakistan Lawmaker Booked For Abusing Woman Activist On Live TV Debate

    Pakistan Lawmaker Booked For Abusing Woman Activist On Live TV Debate
    The ugly incident happened during a private TV talk show last week when Hafiz Hamdullah of Jamiat Ulema-e-Isla Fazal (JUI-F) became furious at Marvi Sarmad for speaking against honour killing.

    Pakistan Lawmaker Booked For Abusing Woman Activist On Live TV Debate