No visas required

When Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek visits Washington this week, he will try to get his country into the US visa waiver programme (VWP). Yet he may help destroy it.

The VWP allows nationals from 27 rich (mostly European) countries to visit the United States for 90 days without a visa.  It dates to happier times when the perceived danger was overstays by illegal immigrants.  Now that the fear is of terrorists, entry formalities are being tightened up for everyone.

Washington wants an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) scheme, with online applications for permission to enter the United States 72 hours in advance.  Australia's own ETA scheme seems to work, but this is tantamount to reintroducing visas for those that currently do not need them.  The Americans would also like more information on passengers (including those merely flying over the United States), biometric passports, tightened airport security, armed US air marshals and a system for recording departing travellers, in order to calculate overstays.

Washington has sent a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on its proposals to EU members.  It next discusses the issues with the EU on March 13.  Prague is not part of the current VWP, and in its desire to improve US entry for its citizens, could anticipate this, accept the MoU and forestall EU negotiations en bloc for better terms.  The result is likely to be an EU tit-for-tat, tightening the rules for US travellers; everyone will lose.