Travellers from the nine of the 10 newest European Union states , Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, with the exception of Slovenia -- still have to apply for visas when they travel to the United States, even for a short stay. Of the older member states, people from Greece also need a visa and are no inclided in the visa-waiver program.
So the European Commission has warned that it might take measures to force Washington to abolish visa restrictions for EU citizens and the EU Commission is threatening to take action against the US if Washington fails to prove that it is trying to abolish visa restrictions on some member states, these actions could insist that American diplomats and military personnel be obliged to have visas to travel in the EU, or demand economic and trade sanctions. Also?‚Â an?‚Â EU official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that another option might be to oblige all US citizens -- not just diplomats and troops -- to obtain visas.
There is many EU new member citizen that cant get a visa plus the time they have to wait for it and the high cost of $100 even if the visa is denied.
The US policy has angered the new EU members, many of them from ex-communist Eastern Europe.
Since the September 11 terrorist attacks, the US has increasingly tightened its borders, especially because members of the plot had legitimate or expired visas. The US also angered would-be visitors last year when it announced that only holders of electronic passports will be eligible for visa-free travel to the US in future.
