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Home : Canada : Canada urged to lift visa rules for EU states

Canada urged to lift visa rules for EU states

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CTV Newsnet: EU wants Canada to alter travel visas

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CTV.ca News Staff

Date: Mon. Sep. 17 2007 11:04 AM ET

The European Commission is demanding that Canada lift visa requirements for new members of the European Union or face possible retaliation.

The commission executive is expected to issue a warning on Tuesday in a report to be presented to EU interior ministers.

The report, which was viewed by the Associated Press, is expected to call on Canada to begin allowing new EU members to travel in Canada without a visa.

By the end of the year, the commission would like Canada to extend visa-free travel to at least one more country and to show progress in eliminating visa requirements for others by the first half of next year.

AP cited the report as saying "appropriate steps could be considered" if Canada fails to follow the recommendations. There are currently eight new EU members that still require visas to travel to Canada.

However, the report stops short of listing specific steps the EU could take in retaliation.

The following EU countries still lack visa-free access to Canada:

  • Bulgaria
  • Czech Republic
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Hungary
  • Poland
  • Romania
  • Slovakia

A diplomat from an EU country without visa-free access to Canada admitted to AP that the countries have few tools at their disposal to put pressure on Canada.

"Realistically, what measures can we take? We won't be able to agree on a visa regime for Canadians or any other measure. That would be counterproductive,'' the diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the report has not yet been made public.

Though Canada has added Cyprus, Malta, Estonia and Slovenia to the list of western European nations with visa-free access, similar access has been withheld from others.

That's left EU members such as Czech Republic and Hungary feeling that their citizens are being given limited access to Canada over unjustified immigration fears.

The report acknowledges the U.S. allows citizens of most western European countries and some other parts of the world to enter the country without visas and has taken steps to grant visa-free access to more countries.

However, it points out that the U.S. has also withheld full access to many newer EU member states. A new bill would grant access to more European countries, but would not go as far as the EU had hoped, AP reports.

The report does not suggest the possibility of taking retaliatory steps against the U.S.

With files from The Associated Press

Please Add Comments( )

L Hachey
said
0 0

Requirements for these visas are put in place for legitimate reasons. They have their procedures and policies and I am certain they would not change them because Canada threaten them in the same manner. How unprofessional is this manner?


C. Noble
said
0 0

I'm sorry - since when is it our responsibility to act on what a European institution deems necessary? Stick it out and do what we think is best for OUR country, not allow the European Commission to dictate to our North American country.


Steven Booth
said
0 0

It is not enough that the EU wants to dominate the lives of its citizens via Brussels' unelected bureaucrats - but now they "demand" to control Canadian policy??? Socialists - now matter how much power they are given, it's not enough!


T. Tall
said
0 0

European hypocrisy has only gotten worse since I lived there. If a Canadian wants to get a job in a European country, most professional job ads there state that applicants must be authorized to work in *all* EU countries beforehand. Then, as is the case in Canada, the Catch-22 kicks in (you need a job offer to apply for a work permit, but no one will hire you unless you’re already approved to work there beforehand). However, there does not exist an EU-wide work permit for Canadians to seek, with the EU stating that work permits are the prerogative of the individual EU nations. Now the EU is trying to tell us that Canada should be granting blanket visa status to the citizens of *all* EU nations instead of considering these countries on an individual basis. In addition, a European applying for a job here must first prove that there is no eligible Canadian for the job. Despite NAFTA, USA and Mexican applicants get no special priority. Meanwhile, the EU Schengen Agreement allows Europeans to work within each others’ borders, such that a local citizen cannot be considered for a job over job candidates from other EU countries. Only after *all* EU citizens have been looked at can a Canadian be considered. Every time a new EU country gets added, Canadians move further down the list. In some cases, the Europeans say that work permits and visas are the prerogative of individual nations, in other cases, they say that they are an EU-wide jurisdiction. They are masters of manipulating their laws and their interpretation in their favor.


George C
said
0 0

I can only comment on the one country (Malta), but Canadians were able to travel to Malta visa-free prior to it joining the EU. So I am assuming the same is true of the other three. So that tells me that is because Canada already had established relations of that sort with those countries. The other countries obviously raise some concern and I think we are well within our right to explore visa requirements with those countries in our own time. Just because they are new EU countries does not mean they get automatic free access to the rest of the world, Canada included. I have travelled to Malta for many years and have seen first hand the results of this new borderless environment has brought upon that country, and I think we need to determine what is best for us, not the EU.


C. Gauton
said
0 0

Canada do not change your stance. The U.K. has been swamped by people coming from Eastern Europe. The European Commission are a bunch of unelected technocrats throwing their weight about.


J. McGarry
said
0 0

So the EU is talking loudly and carrying a small stick. Yeah, that'll work.



Ed
said
0 0

Based on current immigration trends in this country (ie; quality and skill levels) I would support just about any step to encourage more Europeans comming to Canada. Having visited various European countries and holding a European passport, I can honestly say even the new EU member states have a quality of life surpassing ours.
Remember, quality of life isn't always measured by how many Tim Hortons or Wal-marts you have in a decaying city.


Peyman
said
0 0

The visa requirements for travellers from all the EU countries should be lifted immediately. It is a major reason these people have stopped travelling to Canada. I was in Lithuania this summer and this is what I have been told over and over again. It is time for this new foreign minister to show leadership and listen and act upon the EU Commissions's requests.


Dave
said
0 0

I think that all persons from whatever country should have to have a passport or a visa in order to be allowed to enter another country. There should be no exceptions at all. What is the big deal about applying for a visa or passport, a little bit of convieniance but yet it is so much more secure for our borders and others as well. What we need is a more effecient government department for passports and visas so the wait time would be reasonable Canada should not be pressured by the EU on this issue they are not even an elected organization.


Roger T
said
0 0

Here is where our country can shine. Stick with the laws and DO NOT lift the Visa rules. If we start backing down again, this will show that we have no back bone and that we are puppets.

Lets hope our Gov't makes the right decision and make our country and citizens proud for once.




Colin
said
0 0

Is this the same Europe that Canadian soldiers fought and died for twice in the last century? The same Europe who is willing to let their soldiers hang out in the soft parts of Afghanistan while ours fight and die? Someone please explain why we should give them what they want!!


RICHIE
said
0 0

Uhhh... Why does ANYONE enter this country without a visa? With all this talk of pandemics and terrorism maybe the government should step up to the plate and stop allowing so many opportunities for these things to happen. Then once something happens because of their arrogance, WE will be penalized with intensified laws and taxation.


Lart from Above
said
0 0

Europeans are our friends, and they have chosen to form a union with free travel within the EU. It makes no more sense to single out individual European nations for restrictions than it would to require visas from individual American states. Canada should have a single immigration policy for member states of the European Union, and that policy should be one where travellers can visit without visas.

In Europe, Canada's bizarre and antiquated policy is seen as not acknowledging the changes in Europe, not respecting the choices made by Europeans (including the British and French), and basically not having Europe's issues on our foreign policy priority list. Surely that's not a message we should be sending.

Canada needs to acknowledge that the Cold War is over and that the European Union exists. Canada looks foolish when it can't update outmoded rules.


Thomas Chan
said
0 0

Just go with the flow or stick with what you stand, Canada! To be or not to be, that's the question,.... I do believe we have reasons to do that.


tom
said
0 0

If there is good reason to deny visa rights to these countries, by all means keep the restrictions in place.On the other hand,I wonder if this is a typical case of our government dragging their heels and not keeping up with the times.


no visa free canada
said
0 0

Canada should not allow the EU to walk over them. Unless the EU plans to have a free trade agreement with Canada or some other agreements that is beneficial to us. I say let the visa rules stand.


Robert B
said
0 0

So if we don't lift the visa requirements, the EU will retaliate?
I for one think that's a good idea, maybe they'll keep their citizens at home!!!!


JK
said
0 0

I hear what RICHIE is saying. Below is a list of countries and areas as a CANADIAN you must have a TOURIST visa to enter (the list is longer if you are travelling on business):

Admirality Island (Paupa New Guinea, Afganistan, Algeria, Andaman Island, Angola, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijin, Bahrain, Bali, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bhutan, Bom Bom Island, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde Island, central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling Island), Comores Island, Congo, Cote d'ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Dubai, Eat Timor, Eygpt, equatorial Guinea, Eritea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Fyrom (Macedonia), Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakstan, Kenya, Korea (North), Kuwait, Kyrgz Republic, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mali, Marshall island, Mauritania, Mexica, Moldova, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar (Burma), Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norfolk Island, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guineea, Paraguay, Pemba ISland, Phillippines, Qatar, Russia, Sao Tome & Principe, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Sumatra, Suriname, Syria, Tanzania, Togo, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, U.A.E., Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen Republic, Zambia, zanzibar, Zimbabwe



David
said
0 0

Just because Europe has developed the EU, doesn't give them the right to dictate to any other country on thier policy. Stay the course Canada, Visas have worked for years and continue to work. Europe may have changed, but so has Canada and the rest of the World. Remember 911???


Marc
said
0 0

It sounds nothing more then the European Union whining and complaining of not getting what they want. Canada's policy should stay the way it is and the EU has no business whatsoever in sticking their nose in where it doesn't belong. We have the right as a Sovereign nation to decide who comes in and who doesn't...just like Europe does, so they should mind their business and let us (us meaning the one's who liberated their continent)conduct our business without interference. If the EU wishes to retaliate against us, Let them! What are they going to do? Refuse our natural resources such as oil they so desperately need?

Richard
said
0 0

This is the first time I've ever heard of this issue before..


Marty
said
0 0

I don't believe Lart From Above understands that Canada is a sovereign nation and we have the right to govern ourselves without the European Union telling us how we should write our policies. From what I see, several of those nations on the list still have to prove to Canada that they are worthy enough to come to this country visa free.


Wes
said
0 0

Ed I have spent significant time in Europe, all they have is decaying cities. If life is just that good over there why do people leave? Canada should not take kindly to bureaucrats in another country making demands of our government. Let's remember that Canadian officials have responsibilities to Canadians not the EU.


James, Saskatoon, SK.
said
0 0

Stick it out and say no to EU, we don't want a lot of freeloaders coming from Eastern Europe and then claiming asylum which they will do for sure. Keep the visa rules as they are and tell EU to mind your own business!!


Ann A
said
0 0

Canada should not agree to EU demanding that Canada lift visa requirements for new members of the European Union. Further to comments made previously re the U.K. is not the only country 'swamped' by people coming from Eastern Europe but most of western Europe, having been there many times and have seen what has happened by the invasion of Eastern Europeans not respecting the countries they are living in now.


Graham
said
0 0

Interesting debate...I would say that Canada should review its visa entry requirements for new EU members to ensure we are ' current' with our policy. I also think we should be more flexible with the EU and thus communicate with them the areas of Canada's concern and why they exist. To be honest I don't think anybody who has commented on here knows why these particular countries are not granted visa free status already or why we should. I consider the EU our allies. Our country was developed from the immigration from people from the EU so we should have some basic respect.


Dwayne Moholitny - Edmonton
said
0 0

It's possible that a proportion of Canadians have ancestors living in parts of the EU where applying for a visa is extremely expensive. It's time we eliminated the bureaucracy which sours relations between countries in both directions.


Manny B.
said
0 0

Wow...we have people here mixing up visas with passports, immigration, WWII and Afganistan...

These people would be the first to be in a uproar if the EU singled out, let's say, Albertans and asked them to get visas to visit Europe.

The EU is like the U.S.A...a bunch of states that got together...in a union...

I can't see Canada starting to ask some U.S. states for visas and not others.

People should get out more.



Blaise
said
0 0

As a Canadian who has worked in a South American country whose citizens need visas to come to Canada, I have an idea where the Europeans are coming from.

Here's the problem: You go to the Canadian Embassy and apply for the visa. It's expensive and the money has to be deposited in a specified bank account before the embassy will even receive the application. Later, people are told whether or not they have received the visa. If the application is rejected, they are not only not told why, but are not permitted to speak to anyone to find out what the problem was so it can be rectified. Further, people are never able to call to check on the progress of the visa, or to speak to whoever made the decision. People find it very rude and arrogant because they pay a lot of money but really get no service. The only excuse I was ever able to make in defence of our government is that Canadians are treated no better by our bureaucracy at home.


Adam
said
0 0

All the people saying that Canada should just give immediate status to citizens on EU countries are sadly mistaken. We have visa requirements in place for a reason. And the people like "ed" here that say that the EU member staes all have a higher quality of living then us should maybe do a little research. Canada is #6 in "most livable countries" according to the UN. Only 2 EU countries are ahead of US.
The Canadian government should do what is right for US and not be pushed around by the EU.


Bernie
said
0 0

They sound arrogant and pushy. If they don't like it just don't come here. I really won't be offended. Don't trust these guys anyway. Their thirst for unelected power will one day come to haunt us all.


S. Owen.
said
0 0

Unless Canada would consider having different visa requirements for citizens of certain US states, or certain countries in the UK, we should recognise the EU's member countries equally, as they do themselves. Would we think it entirely fair if the EU had different visa requirements for Quebec citizens than it did for the other provinces?


Charlie Flynn
said
0 0

A visa does nothing to alleviate people that want to break the immigration rules. It is simply an impediment to free movement of honest visitors to Canada. There is no rational reason for it and Canada should remove visa requirements slowly and steadily for all countries of the world! A visa has never been proven to provide any extra security or any bona fide benefit to any country, it just signifies our fear of others.


mark
said
0 0

We have a North American Union to already defend ourselves from joining... The EU's ultimate goal is global government... How do you do that? Get your citizens to infiltrate every society to dictate influence.


chuckko
said
0 0

I think the concept of lifting visa requirements is laudable and in an ecumenical if misguided spirit of quid pro quo, why can't none EU members i.e. North Americans get fast tracked into Europe without having to stand in those long long long immigration queues reserved Non EU members at airports as we now do..

????

nice to dictate
hard to apply

but lets face it, the EU was never good with reality, only platitudes and puffery



Anthony Barter
said
0 0

I am not sure where JK got info from, but I have travelled to Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Chile, Indonesia (Bali is part of Indonesia), Turkey and Singapore visa free recently, if any Visa is required its usually a landing fee and is obtained at the border.

I feel the visa requirements are necessary for some citizens entering Canada, and is a hardship for citizens from countries other than the EU.

Visa requirements should be reviewed annually on a country to country basis.

Every sovereign country has the right to invoke its own Foreign Policy/entry requirements.


Anne M
said
0 0

Stick to your guns, Canada. Thank goodness, we have a gov't that will not give into the EU, no matter what.


J. Doyle
said
0 0

Wow I never realised Canadians are so anti-European. You do all realise this report is about 'holiday visas' and not about handing out work permits or immigration status to citizens of these European countries. Why shouldn't citizens of democratic nations like the Czech Republic and Poland be allowed to come to visit Canada without first needing a letter of invitation, flights and hotels booked in advance. The iron curtain fell almost 2 decades ago. Canadians can travel to these countries visa-free. The EU is not 'dictating' what Canadian policy should be, but just trying to improve matters for some of its citizens.


amber
said
0 0

We dictate our own policies based on our own needs and concerns and if immigration is our concern then what right do they have to call it unjustified. Secondly how about some consistency, why are we threatened when the United States is not?


Terry
said
0 0

Unreal, comparing the EU member COUNTRIES to the U.S.
The EU is a non-elected association of member SOVEREIGN COUNTRIES, not at all like the U.S. a single sovereign country.

I think I'll let my politicians and beurocrats determine what's best for my country, thank you very much!


daryl w
said
0 0

OTTAWA, show some guts! Tell the fat cat socialists of Brussels to mind their own business and proceed at your own speed to lift visa requirements as you deem necessary.


John Purves
said
0 0

Canada already has some of the most liberal immigration laws among developed nations. I think Canada should dicate immigration requirements not the E.U. If they E.U. wants to slap visas on us, let them. Many nations in Europe are having serious infrastructure problems because of the migration between E.U. nations.


Jack
said
0 0

My parents come from one of the new EU countries that joined in 2004. Canada still requires that citizens of that country to get an entry visa because there is still a strong fear that many will stay/work in Canada illegally (this had been a major problem in the past). This obviously does not apply to all the new members. However, using Poland as an example, where over 2 million people have left the country since 2004 to other EU countries, I can see why Canada might not be ready to have open borders with many of the new EU countries. Visa free travel should be set on a country per country basis.


Lart from Above
said
0 0

This is not about Canada being a sovereign country, this is about Canada treating different members of the European Union differently. We would be offended if the Europeans treated Canadians from different provinces differently. We don't have a moral right to make decisions about how Europe is put together.


Bryan
said
0 0

Let me get this straight: we're tightening border restrictions with the US by making everyone scramble to get passports, but considering reducing restrictions with countries like Poland and the Czech Republic?? Where are our priorities?


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