The Commission is reporting on the progress since December 2020 towards achieving full visa-waiver reciprocity with the United States. Ensuring that countries on the EU visa-free list waive visa requirements for citizens of all EU member states is a fundamental principle of EU visa policy. The EU-US Justice and Home Affairs Ministerial meetings in June and December 2021, as well as Croatia’s designation and entry into the US Visa Waiver Programme in September, show that sustained diplomatic engagement and support to member states to fulfil the requirements of joining the US Visa Waiver Programme continue to deliver results. Poland also entered the US Visa Waiver Programme in November 2019.
The Commission remains committed to achieving full visa reciprocity for all member states and has worked with the United States, as well as with Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania to help them fulfil requirements of the United States Visa Waiver Program. The Communication underlines the continued efforts and engagement of the Commission to address the current situation of non-reciprocity, notwithstanding the COVID-19 pandemic. The Communication follows up on the political commitment expressed in the last Communication from December 2020 to report to the European Parliament and the Council on developments in this area by December 2021.
