US to discuss visas with EU members

A senior US government official will discuss a visa waiver programme with representatives of mostly east European countries in Prague today, the US embassy said yesterday.

The embassy said Assistant Secretary for International Affairs of the Department of Homeland Security Paul Rosenzweig would meet officials from 13 countries (including Malta) included in the so-called Roadmap aimed at an easier travel regime to brief them on planned reforms to the visa policy.

"These reforms, if approved by Congress, would enhance the overall security elements of the programme and eventually permit visa-free travel to the United States for citizens of the countries that meet those security elements," the embassy said in a statement.

US President George W. Bush said in November he would work with the Congress on changes that would make selected countries qualify for the waiver scheme easier.

The 13 countries are new EU members Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania and Slovakia, old EU member Greece, and South Korea.