Radio România Internațional

Tag: visa regime

  • The EU-Canada Trade Agreement and Visas for Romanian Citizens

    The EU-Canada Trade Agreement and Visas for Romanian Citizens

    Romania and Bulgaria are the only EU members whose citizens need visas to travel to Canada. This topic is on the agenda of the European Council in Brussels, focused on trade. Romania said it supported the trade agreement between the EU and the United States, but not the one with Canada, known as CETA. Romania has a simple condition: it would sign the document if Canada removes visa requirements for Romanians traveling there. The Bulgarian government said it also would be willing to sign the agreement if visas were removed for its citizens traveling to Canada. Here is what Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said before departing for Brussels:



    “I hope we can reach an agreement with the Canadian side on the issue of removing visas for Romanians, and if a reasonable understanding is reached, we can overcome the reservations we have towards this agreement.



    The same position was taken by Government spokesman Liviu Iolu:



    “Considerable negotiation and diplomatic efforts have been made, and I remind you here of the two meetings between the prime ministers of Canada and Romania – one in Ottawa and another in New York, where a number of steps were agreed on for eliminating visas. Right now, Romania believes that an agreement for eliminating visas depends solely on a political decision. Technically, all the necessary steps have been made. And before an agreement can be reached, Romania cannot retract its reservations regarding CETA, the Canada-EU trade agreement.



    Romania is also unhappy with the lack of European solidarity in the matter of visas, precisely because of all European countries, only Romanians and Bulgarians still need visas to travel to Canada, considering that European legislation requires for EU members to make a common front in issues having to do with visas, if some European citizens are subject to differential treatment. Moreover, considering that Canadians do not need visas for Europe, even the European Commission concluded in spring that it cannot invoke the principle of reciprocity, since its application would involve high costs for Canada. The Commission assured Bucharest and Sofia that it is making efforts to remove visa requirements for them, saying, however, that the two countries should not use this issue to hinder the trade agreement with Canada, which Brussels desires. In any case, according to Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, it would be reasonable for Romanians to travel to Canada without a visa starting next year.


    (Translated by C. Cotoiu)

  • The visa regime for EU and North-American citizens

    The visa regime for EU and North-American citizens

    Never in its history has the EU been more vulnerable as today, within a month of the bloody attacks in Brussels, and two days after the negative result of the referendum in the Netherlands on the Association Agreement with Ukraine. European media see the result as a new signal of rejection for Europe. According to the US press, the Dutch rejected a trade agreement due to their bitterness towards the EU. Adding to this tension is the forthcoming referendum in the UK on this countrys EU membership.



    Against this delicate backdrop, Europe is trying to regain its cohesion, while Brussels is now standing up for its members in their relations with US partners. International media speculate the EU might introduce visas for US and Canadian citizens traveling to the community area, in response to Washington and Ottawas reluctance to lift the visa regime on some EU citizens. The United States and Canada still require travel visas for citizens of Romania and Bulgaria, two countries that joined the EU in 2007. The US has also excluded Croatia, Cyprus and Poland from the Visa Waiver Program.



    EU officials now call for a political debate in order to solve this urgent matter. The debate might be held as early as Tuesday, a week ahead of the visit US president Barack Obama is scheduled to pay to Europe. The US president will take part in negotiations regarding a bilateral treaty between the EU and the US in terms of trade and investments. This could be the biggest trade agreement in history, which both sides believe will very likely be adopted by the end of Obamas term in office, in January 2017.



    On the other hand, introducing visas for Americans and Canadians could negatively impact the European tourist industry, already shaken by terrorist threats. “There are many questions regarding this treaty, and no one can say exactly how this story is going to end. We hope to persuade Obama to accept as many of our terms as possible, an MEP has told the press.



    For Romania, not being part of the visa Waiver casts a dark reflection on its relations with the US. The two countries are allies within NATO and bound by a strategic bilateral partnership. Romania is home to major US military bases and economic investments. Ever since the 19th century, North America has been home to large Romanian communities, which today total some 500 thousand people. Political pundits say all these aspects compel US authorities to take immediate action to lift visas for Romanian citizens.


    (translated by: Vlad Palcu)