Ministers admitted yesterday that they are examining Washington's demands to allow armed guards on US airline flights from the UK to America, and indicated that the request could affect the future of visa-free travel by Britons to America.
Speaking in Washington, Jacqui Smith, the home secretary, confirmed yesterday's Guardian report that Washington was demanding that EU countries agree to new security measures for transatlantic travel as part of a review of "visa waiver" programmes which enable foreigners to enter the US without a visa.
"There is interest in how and whether it's possible to strengthen the security of those travelling between Europe and the US," she said. "This is a request to the EU to look at the conditions around that travel to see what more we can do to strengthen it."
At present only seven of the 27 EU member countries, including Britain, allow armed air marshals on flights and even fewer - three, also including Britain - have active programmes. A 10-page memorandum of understanding being put to all EU governments would oblige all 27 to pass laws allowing American marshals on transatlantic flights by US airlines.
Under current arrangements, the 12 countries which have joined the EU since 2004 - with the exception of Slovenia - need visas for the US, while the "old" 15 EU countries of western Europe, except Greece, have visa-free travel.
A west European diplomat said the US was linking its demands for air marshals and increased information on transatlantic passengers with "the criteria for prolonging the visa waiver programme".
Smith said the Americans were making no "explicit threat" to Britain's visa-free regime, but there was "a potential link" between the US requirements and the no-visa regime: "In any visa waiver scheme there are expectations from any country for whom you waive your visa requirements."
The US negotiations are most advanced in eastern Europe because the new members want US visas dropped and are more likely to agree to more security measures.
"Lamentably, it seems air marshals will be necessary in the future," said the Czech foreign minister, Karel Schwarzenberg. The Czechs are the closest to signing the US document. Brussels is furious that its negotiating position is being undermined by individual countries breaking ranks.
Schwarzenberg complained that Brussels was doing nothing to persuade the Americans to treat all EU members identically.
Brussels is also angry because one of the US demands is to provide its agencies with data on passengers flying from Europe over American territory to other countries. The transfer of data for travellers to the US is already regulated by EU rules agreed last summer, but the new request goes beyond that.
A Downing Street spokesman said only that there was "an ongoing discussion" in the EU on the American memorandum. But diplomats and officials doubt that the Americans will reintroduce visas for west Europeans.
guardian.co.uk © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2008
