5 ms·

Romania and Bulgaria both control their own borders, they are not members of the Schengen Zone. Therefore this has absolutely nothing to do with an exchange of

by Kequc 11y ago

Romania and Bulgaria both control their own borders, they are not members of the Schengen Zone. Therefore this has absolutely nothing to do with an exchange of visa free travel. A fair exchange would be that Romania and Bulgaria both revoke visa free travel... although they don't offer it in the first place. It sounds like the EU is trying to throw its weight around in order to gain political favour with neighbour states. I hope everyone says no. The EU would see its tourism from more affluent countries plummet, cutting off the nose to spite the face. It's political posturing and probably nothing would come out of it if everyone did say no.

21 11y ago
What do you mean for Romania and Bulgaria to revoke visa free travel? Romanian and Bulgarian citizens can travel all over EU, including into the Schengen Zone, without a visa. They are only subject to a Passport/ID check. And EU citizens can travel to Romania/Bulgaria without visas. So what do you mean?
- Kequc 11y ago
  I mean coming from Canada, both countries require a visa. It's the same the other way around, but the EU is pressuring Canada apparently to offer visa free travel to them both. Why wouldn't such a thing be worked out between the individual countries involved.
  - germanier 11y ago
    Because the EU member states decided to lift this issue to the EU level via Council Regulation (EC) No 539/2001. The EU is about harmonizing legislation after all and regulating external borders is a very important part of what the EU does.
    - Kequc 11y ago
      > regulating external borders is a very important part of what the EU does. Whoa man. Lets not open up that can of worms here, lets try and keep the topic about Canada eh/ I think telling another country who they must allow visa free travel to is similar to telling them what laws they need to follow. Canada isn't a member of the EU, there never was any such agreement. An EU council regulation should have little to do with them.
      - germanier 11y ago
        Visa-free entry is usually done on a reciprocal basis, i.e. two countries decide that each others citizens can enter visa free. The EU member states decided that they only enter into such an agreement if there are similar agreements with all other member states. Nobody here tells Canada what to do. They only say that if Canadian citizens should be let without a visa into the EU, they must allow all EU citizens visa-free entry.
        Kequc 11y ago
        I pointed out in my first post that the countries in questions have their own borders. The "EU" isn't an entity you reciprocate visa free travel from and to. Some member states of the EU, don't share the same visa rules as other member states. Such as in this case here. Why am I expected to talk in circles with you.
        germanier 11y ago
        This is the clearest I can put it: Parties A and B want to enter into an agreement. B will only do so under condition X. Party B is free to state any conditions they want just as A is free to not accept them. Now substitute "Canada" for A, "Germany"/"France"/"Sweden"/... for B and "Enter a similar agreement with these other 25 countries" for X and you get the current situation. The EU member states decided to make this a condition to all their reciprocal visa agreements. If Canada thinks that's not fair they can withdraw from the reciprocal visa agreements.
        vidarh 11y ago
        > The "EU" isn't an entity you reciprocate visa free travel from and to. The EU has decided that it is, with the exception of the UK and Ireland which has specific opt-outs from Schengen. Whether the EU will stick to that or not, the point is that the visa policy of all EU members other than the UK and Ireland is set at EU level. Some non-Schengen EU members have still not fully harmonized their visa rules, but they are expected to, and the issue here is that the principles of Schengen visa policy is reciprocity, and then Canada's lack of willingness to reciprocate becomes a problem.
darkhorn 11y ago
What do you mean by "Bulgaria is controlling its own border"? There is no phisical border between Bulgaria and Greece. A terrorist Canadian can enter Bulgaria from south.
oblio 11y ago
> It's political posturing and probably nothing would come out of it if everyone did say no. I thought the same thing. Apparently it's not. https://www.reddit.com/r/europe/comments/4e0tzm/european_union_to_consider_reimposition_of_visas/d1w281e https://www.reddit.com/r/europe/comments/4e0tzm/european_uni...

by Kequc 11y ago

21 11y ago

What do you mean for Romania and Bulgaria to revoke visa free travel? Romanian and Bulgarian citizens can travel all over EU, including into the Schengen Zone, without a visa. They are only subject to a Passport/ID check. And EU citizens can travel to Romania/Bulgaria without visas. So what do you mean?

Kequc 11y ago
I mean coming from Canada, both countries require a visa. It's the same the other way around, but the EU is pressuring Canada apparently to offer visa free travel to them both. Why wouldn't such a thing be worked out between the individual countries involved.
- germanier 11y ago
  Because the EU member states decided to lift this issue to the EU level via Council Regulation (EC) No 539/2001. The EU is about harmonizing legislation after all and regulating external borders is a very important part of what the EU does.
  - Kequc 11y ago
    > regulating external borders is a very important part of what the EU does. Whoa man. Lets not open up that can of worms here, lets try and keep the topic about Canada eh/ I think telling another country who they must allow visa free travel to is similar to telling them what laws they need to follow. Canada isn't a member of the EU, there never was any such agreement. An EU council regulation should have little to do with them.
    - germanier 11y ago
      Visa-free entry is usually done on a reciprocal basis, i.e. two countries decide that each others citizens can enter visa free. The EU member states decided that they only enter into such an agreement if there are similar agreements with all other member states. Nobody here tells Canada what to do. They only say that if Canadian citizens should be let without a visa into the EU, they must allow all EU citizens visa-free entry.
      - Kequc 11y ago
        I pointed out in my first post that the countries in questions have their own borders. The "EU" isn't an entity you reciprocate visa free travel from and to. Some member states of the EU, don't share the same visa rules as other member states. Such as in this case here. Why am I expected to talk in circles with you.
        germanier 11y ago
        This is the clearest I can put it: Parties A and B want to enter into an agreement. B will only do so under condition X. Party B is free to state any conditions they want just as A is free to not accept them. Now substitute "Canada" for A, "Germany"/"France"/"Sweden"/... for B and "Enter a similar agreement with these other 25 countries" for X and you get the current situation. The EU member states decided to make this a condition to all their reciprocal visa agreements. If Canada thinks that's not fair they can withdraw from the reciprocal visa agreements.
        vidarh 11y ago
        > The "EU" isn't an entity you reciprocate visa free travel from and to. The EU has decided that it is, with the exception of the UK and Ireland which has specific opt-outs from Schengen. Whether the EU will stick to that or not, the point is that the visa policy of all EU members other than the UK and Ireland is set at EU level. Some non-Schengen EU members have still not fully harmonized their visa rules, but they are expected to, and the issue here is that the principles of Schengen visa policy is reciprocity, and then Canada's lack of willingness to reciprocate becomes a problem.

darkhorn 11y ago

What do you mean by "Bulgaria is controlling its own border"? There is no phisical border between Bulgaria and Greece. A terrorist Canadian can enter Bulgaria from south.

oblio 11y ago

> It's political posturing and probably nothing would come out of it if everyone did say no. I thought the same thing. Apparently it's not. https://www.reddit.com/r/europe/comments/4e0tzm/european_union_to_consider_reimposition_of_visas/d1w281e https://www.reddit.com/r/europe/comments/4e0tzm/european_uni...