Independent: European Parliament Votes to End Visa-Free Travel for Americans

The European Union expects consistent treatment by other nations for citizens of its member states. The European Parliament voted to end visa-free travel for Americans within the EU, after the United States “failed to agree to visa-free travel for citizens of five EU countries – Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Poland and Romania – as part of a reciprocity agreement.” The United States, Australia, Japan and Canada are not meeting a reciprocity agreement on visa-free travel, and one official warned that retaliating would reduce visitors and lead to a drop in tourism revenue. Such agreements on visa-free travel often increase travel and business and improve relations. The European Union is also considering a version of the US Electronic System for Travel Authorization, or ESTA. The system charges a small fee and collects information on foreign travelers for security purposes. – YaleGlobal