ALDE urges Czechs not to bow to divide-and-rule tactics of the US

9.26.47am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 27th Feb 2008

Today the Czech Republic is due to sign a visa deal with the United States whereby the Czech authorities will give the US a range of data to detect and prevent terrorist travel. By signing this agreement, the Czechs hope it will ease their way to visa-free travel to the United States.

Sarah Ludford the European Parliament's rapporteur on the Visa Information System said:

"This short-sighted inability of the EU to act in unity and solidarity on behalf of all its citizens will have repercussions not only in border management but also across a whole range of foreign, security and justice policies."

"Whilst acknowledging that individual Czech citizens are keen to gain quick entry to the US, Member States are wilfully squandering any leverage with the US on matters such as data protection, opposition to kidnap and torture in fighting terrorism, and reciprocity in extradition arrangements by signing up to these US demands. In the long run they are letting down EU citizens and those across the globe who look to the EU to use its power fully and responsibly."

The United States is also pressing other central and Eastern European countries to sign this deal. ALDE urges these countries not to cave in under pressure from the Bush administration.