Originally Posted by Reuters

EU may require visas from Americans and Canadians: EU source

The European Union executive is considering whether to make U.S. and Canadian citizens apply for visas before traveling to the bloc, a move that could raise tensions as Brussels negotiates a trade pact with Washington.

..... the European Commission must decide by April 12 whether to demand visas from countries who have similar requirements in place for one or more EU state.

Washington and Ottawa both demand entry visas from Romanians and Bulgarians, whose states joined the EU in 2007. The United States also excludes Croatians, Cypriots and Poles from a visa waiver scheme offered to other EU citizens.

Originally Posted by MSPeconomist (Post 26450749)

Let's not forget that there was a period in the 1980s-1990s when France required visas of all USA citizens. The requirement was dropped before my IIRC three-year visa expired.

Originally Posted by GUWonder (Post 26451372)

I never had a visa for France in any of my US passports that was valid during the 1990s. And I did visit France in the 1990s, or at least each year from 1991-2000.

Originally Posted by :D! (Post 26454892)

I would like to say "serves them right" but these restrictions only hurt ordinary people, not the responsible governments.

Originally Posted by :D! (Post 26454892)

I would like to say "serves them right" but these restrictions only hurt ordinary people, not the responsible governments.

Originally Posted by TWA884 (Post 26451406)

US passport holders needed French visas in the late 80's. I had one that was issued in February 1988.

Originally Posted by mfkne (Post 26459633)

The EU requiring visas from US citizens is long overdue, the reciprocity that visa agreements are normally based on was removed when the U.S. introduced ESTA, which constitutes a visa for all intents and purposes.

Originally Posted by TWA884 (Post 26460382)

American tourists are too much of a cash cow for many western European economies for that to happen as this will negatively affect the number of Americans traveling to Europe.

In addition, this tit-for-tat is plain stupid; the percetage of US citizens illegally overstaying the Schengen stay limits is miniscule compared to the percentage of Eastern Europeans, i.e., Romanians and Bulgarians, who remain in the US illegally past the expiration of their authorized entry permits.

Originally Posted by GUWonder (Post 26460545)

I think that a Schengen evisa regime akin to the US ESTA/evisa regime wouldn't really kill the American cash cow providing milk to the Schengen tourism sector.

Originally Posted by TWA884 (Post 26460733)

I tend to agree with your assessment, however, I was responding to an assertion that "[t]he EU requiring visas from US citizens is long overdue."

There is a big difference between obtaining an electronic entry permit and applying for a traditional visa.