British holidaymakers face £10 VISA to visit EU as Brussels bureaucrats hit out at UK
BRITISH travellers could be forced to pay for a visa to visit EU countries in order to strengthen the security of the union.
European Union does not have enough union: Jean-Claude Juncker
Discussing the possibility of introducing a US-visa waiver programme to boost security, the European Commissioner Sir Julian King said cases on security and migration could be solved with this “valuable” system.
The European Union is leaning on the US for visa inspiration
He said: “We think this is going to be a valuable additional piece of the jigsaw because it will allow us to know more about the people who are planning to come to the EU in advance, so that if necessary they raise questions about either security or in some cases migration.
“We’ll be able to intervene even before they arrive in some cases.”
Currently, British travellers can travel anywhere around the EU without a via
Travellers heading to the US would normally have to apply for an Esta – an electronic travelling system.
But EU residents entering the Schengen zone - which excludes the UK - will be forced to make a £10 payment to visit their neighbouring countries.
Currently, British passport holders can travel throughout the EU without having to apply for any sort of visa.
But the proposals, which come a year after the Paris attacks, are part of a larger response to calls for greater security within the EU.
The US style visa system boosts security levels
Sir Julian said: “The fact that we’re having this conversation now is unfortunately timely, because Sunday is one year on from the horrible attacks in Paris which were part of a series of attacks that shocked France, shocked the whole of Europe.
“It’s that level of present, persistent, indiscriminate threat that led to 80-plus per cent of European citizens saying they want more action in this area.
Norway has asked the EU to strengthen their borders
He added: “There’s work that needs to be done on cyber-crime and attacks, and serious and organised crime.”
He also said the EU was working with internet service providers to tackle Islamic State messages and other “unpleasant” material.
The calls for greater security within the EU comes after Norway’s Justice Minister, Anders Anundsen announced his plan to ask the EU to extend their country’s border checks.
Norway implemented internal checks last year, but Mr Anunsden wants the temporary border to remain as a matter of national security.