EU seeks universal visa-free travel to the United States

The European Union is intensifying efforts to secure visa-free travel to the United States for all its citizens, according to a briefing released by the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS) on September 28, 2026. Currently, Cyprus, Bulgaria, and Romania remain the only EU member states excluded from the American Visa Waiver Program.

To address this disparity, the European Commission concluded negotiations with the U.S. on July 23, 2026, regarding a framework agreement for enhanced border security cooperation. This agreement involves the exchange of sensitive personal and biometric data. The primary objective is to maintain visa-free access for states already in the program while establishing terms for future bilateral negotiations on data sharing from national databases. The framework agreement now requires formal consent from the European Parliament and approval from the Council of the EU.

Washington has reportedly set a deadline of December 31, 2026, for concluding relevant agreements. The initiative aims to standardize entry requirements across all EU member states, ensuring that citizens from Cyprus, Bulgaria, and Romania eventually receive the same travel privileges as other EU residents.