Canada urged to lift visa rules for EU states

[jolinar of malkshor]

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

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...7?hub=Politics

So...what do you think?

I don't think it is that much of a hardship for travellers from these countries to get a Visa if they wish to visit. I think Canada needs to keep a good control with regards to its borders and deciding who can enter and who cannot. It is much cheaper and much easier to do front end screening on these people instead of trying to find them once they get here and then decide not to leave.

[JohnnyB]

We should just join up with the EU and settle it that way.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by JohnnyB

We should just join up with the EU and settle it that way.

Ya....but we aren't in Europe and they have done a very poor job in controlling their own immigration.

[Hack&Lube]

Geez, tell that to the EU who are pretty hypocritical in regard to it's member states own fears of unchecked movement of people from the newer (usually poorer) EU states to the new ones.

[Azure]

Screw the EU.

[Ford Prefect]

Ya, screw the EU. I'm not comfortable with looser customs arrangements with the EU since what little I know about them doesn't exactly inspire confidence. Plus, we're trying to convince our biggest trading partner, the US, that we're not an open back door to the US for illiegal and undesirable aliens, so where in that picture does it make sense for us to allow EU vistors into Canada without a visa? That's just bad for business, which between the par loonie and US protectionism is bad enough already.

[LouCypher]

As there really is no assurance that an individual from a EU member country or any country outside the EU should be treated differently I have to agree, screw the EU lets go to war!! Or we just exercise our own discretion on anyone entering our borders as is our right as an independant nation, like we do now.

[Clever_Iggy]

There is no way the US would stand by and let this happen. One of their biggest concerns are terrorists coming into the US through Canada. With recent terrorist activities in Europe and Europe's proximity to regions engaged in terrorism, this will be a "non-negotiable" issue with the US.

[Ford Prefect]

Originally Posted by Clever_Iggy

There is no way the US would stand by and let this happen. One of their biggest concerns are terrorists coming into the US through Canada. With recent terrorist activities in Europe and Europe's proximity to regions engaged in terrorism, this will be a "non-negotiable" issue with the US.

Yup, that's pretty much the way I see it too.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Clever_Iggy

There is no way the US would stand by and let this happen. One of their biggest concerns are terrorists coming into the US through Canada. With recent terrorist activities in Europe and Europe's proximity to regions engaged in terrorism, this will be a "non-negotiable" issue with the US.

Agreed.

But it still makes the US look hypocritical...considering they can't secure their own borders.

[longsuffering]

Before making a mountain out of a molehill, let's recognize that the only current EU member states that don't already enjoy a visa exemption for Canada are:

Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia.

The US list of EU countries who don't participate in their visa waiver program is similar to the above list for Canada, although citizens from Cyprus, Estonia and Greece will need visa's to travel to the US.

Visa waivers (or requirements) are generally reciprocal, meaning both countries agree to waive (or not waive) the requirement for the visa.

This is a minor spat that I'm sure will be resolved. It isn't in any one's interest to set impractical visa requirements on EU or 'Western' countries citizens.

Could you imagine what it would do to tourism if Canada required US and/or all EU citizens to have a visa to vacation in Canada? And would you be happy if you needed to apply months in advance if you planned to visit London or Paris or Amsterdam?

[SebC]

Originally Posted by fotze

Are we allowed to go to every EU state without visa? I don't seem to remember getting one, but maybe I did?

When I was travelling this summer I read both that you needed one and that you didn't need one for the Czech Republic... got in no problems without one but I was a little bit nervous about it.

[mykalberta]

Until the EU starts issuing passports for its member countries who cares what and Economic Union says. Thats like NAFTA trying to give policy statements to other countries.

The most it could do is attempt to convince its member states to add Canadians to the Visa requirements list - guess what, that will only hurt EU buisnesses. Most that will happen is requiring diplomats and the like to get Visa's and then Canada will retaliate.

MYK

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Clever_Iggy

There is no way the US would stand by and let this happen. One of their biggest concerns are terrorists coming into the US through Canada. With recent terrorist activities in Europe and Europe's proximity to regions engaged in terrorism, this will be a "non-negotiable" issue with the US.

Yeah, watch out for those crazy Hungarian terrorists!

There's way more terrorist activity being planned in the city of London alone than all these countries combined.

[SaskaBushFire]

The problem here is that Canad and the U.S. have talked about doing this for England, France, Germany..etc.. but then countries that are also part of the EU, say Hungary, want the same treatment. They are basically saying you can't do some, you have to allow all countries the same privaledges. Big line being drawn between people on this topic, it has fueled a few heated discussions in my classes.

[BlackEleven]

Originally Posted by fotze

Are we allowed to go to every EU state without visa? I don't seem to remember getting one, but maybe I did?

Yes, we are. So I don't really have a problem extending the same priviledge to them.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by BlackEleven

Yes, we are. So I don't really have a problem extending the same priviledge to them.

Just because some country doesn't require Canadians to not have a visa doesn't mean we shouldn't make them have a visa. What kind of logic is that?

The chance of Canadians going to Europe and then not leaving, living and working there is much less than a polish person who can come to Canada.

Do you not understand that?

[blankall]

Waiving the visa would be a horrible idea. It would only encourage illegal immigration. Look at the list of countries on our required visa list. All Eastern European with rapidly emigrating populations.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by blankall

Waiving the visa would be a horrible idea. It would only encourage illegal immigration. Look at the list of countries on our required visa list. All Eastern European with rapidly emigrating populations.

Bingo..

[Table 5]

Considering the amount of skilled labour in a lot of these countries (and our total need for it), it wouldn't be the worst thing to have people come to Canada. These are not 3rd world nations with uneducated populations we're dealing with, a lot of these people have skills that we are in dire need of.

And remember, immigration is not the only issue here. These kinds of policies prevent tourism money from coming into Canada...something that is becoming more of an issue with a stronger dollar.

But I guess it's just easier to fear monger...