U.S., EU Discuss Data Exchange For Visas

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 07:52:31 +0000
Vittorio Hernandez - AHN News Writer

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - The U.S. and the European Union are discussing data exchange to facilitate the issuance of visas from the U.S. to Europe and vice-versa.

Data trading may include fingerprints, DNA data criminal cases and terrorists, race or ethnic origin, political and religious belief and even sexual orientation.

The data exchange is part of the U.S. conditions to grant citizens of new and existing EU member-states to enter the U.S. without a visa. Americans already enjoy that privilege when they go to Europe.

Federal officials from the U.S. said the data exchange is vital to spot dangerous people before they enter the country and to assist them conduct criminal and terrorist investigations.

Some European nations, however, have expressed apprehension the exchange deal may lead the U.S. to seek greater access to a wider scope of Europe-wide databases. Sophie in't Veld, a member of the European Parliament told the Washington Post, "We seem to be opening the floodgates, left, right and center... It seems to me there are hardly any restrictions left."

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