Kathy Tzilivakis

 

GEORGE Papandreou is expected to return from his first official visit to the United States as Greece’s prime minister with a deal to finally get Greece on the US visa-waiver list, after meeting all the US’ statutory eligibility requirements. 

 

In an interview with Flash Radio on March 1, Alternate Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas said the “Greek side has carried out all of the necessary preparations on the issues and this has been acknowledged by the US”.

 

Terrorism was one issue. The US does not view Greece as a terrorist threat to the US and Greece is not viewed as a breeding ground for terrorists. Greece even signed a deal on criminal data sharing last June which policymakers on both sides of the Atlantic said would pave the way for a visa agreement.

 

However, Greece’s current economic crisis poses an obstacle to visa-free travel to the US. The US could argue that the country’s current economic situation may potentially give rise to illegal immigration. 

 

Greece has long lobbied to be included in the visa-waiver programme.  Greece is the only member of the older 15 European Union member states not included in the visa-waiver programme, which allows citizens of specific countries to travel to the US for tourism or business for up to 90 days without having to obtain a visa.