European Parliament votes to end visa-free travel to Americans

The European Parliament has voted to end visa-free travel for Americans travelling within the European Union.

According to The Independent, the move comes after the United States said it won’t give visa-free travel to five EU nations viz Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Poland and Romania.

The vote urges the revocation of the scheme within two months, meaning Americans will have to apply for extra documents for 12 months after the European Commission implements a “delegated act” to bring the change into effect.

Three years ago, the European Commission discovered that the United States was not meeting its obligations under the reciprocity agreement, but had still not taken legal action.

Australia, Brunei, Japan and Canada were also failing in their obligations, but all four have lifted, or are soon to lift, any visa restrictions on travel for EU citizens.

The resolution though nonbinding is an important political signal and increases pressure on the European Commission, the bloc’s executive body, to confront the new administration in Washington.

The European Parliament also warned that it could take the further step of bringing the European Commission to court if it continues not to stand up to Washington.