European Union may open up to OT travellers

| 13/11/2012

eu.jpg(CNS): The European Commission has proposed adding five Caribbean Island Nations, 10 Pacific Island Nations and specific categories of Britishcitizens currently under visa obligations that reside in some of Britain’s overseas territories to the list of third countries whose nationals are exempt from the visa obligation. It is now up to the European Parliament and to the Council of the European Union to make a final decision on the Commission proposal. This would mean easier travel to and from the various destinations as the countries included on the list would be expected to reciprocate, making it easier for Europeans to travel to the Caribbean and the various territories.

The move is aimed at simplifying travel and nationals from the countries would no longer require a visa for short stays of up to 90 days if they have a relevant passport for business or pleasure.

"Traveling without a visa is not just a symbolic gesture – it will have a direct impact on citizens of these countries and on EU citizens, in the form of more people-to-people contacts and business opportunities," said Cecilia Malmström, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs.

In addition to the UK’s overseas territories, the list of proposed countries includes Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu and Timor-Leste. 

Category: World News

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  1. Anonymous says:

    All the other countries on the list have their people wanting to go to UK and Europe except the Cayman Islands. In our case they want to come here. Could be a disaster for our country.

  2. Anonymous says:

    Wish that Cayman had politicians who would tell Caymanians the truth about what is really being done to them.  Oh well, maybe soon.

  3. Anonymous says:

    Please note folks that they expect us to give reciprocal access to Cayman. In other words someone from Germany, Turkey, France, Poland etc will have the right to just jump on a plane and come here, literally walking right through immigration. We must stop this and get off that list. Wake up Caymanians!!! This is the last control still in the hands of Caymanians and this is likely a plot by UK to remove it.

    • Anonymous says:

      This is has to do with the requirement fortourist/business VISAs, not circumventing immigration dept.  There are alot of people that travel by airplane these days, even if you never have.

    • Anonymous says:

      Yes, we don't want anyone from Europe's biggest economy just walking in to Cayman do we?  Can't they already anyway?

    • Anonymous says:

      If you are going to be outraged by something, at least be outraged by something that's true.

       

      1. Turkey isn't in the EU.

       

      2. No visitor from an EU country currently requires a visa to enter Cayman.

       

      3. How else does one pass through immigration if not on foot? Segway? Piggyback?

       

      3. A UK plot? Come on.

       

       

    • Anonymous says:

      Yes, the UK has used up its limited political capital in the EUas part of a conspiracy to destroy the Cayman Islands.  I think you really need to get some sense of how completely insiginificant the Cayman Islands really is. 

      • Anonymous says:

        We are significant enough for the former British PM to go to the U.S. and declare how great it would be to have a wolrd without "tax havens", i.e. let's get together and close them down. Significant enough for us to freature prominently in Obama's campaign rhetoric.  Significant enough for us to be constantly on the lips of certain members of the U.S Congress.

        Britain would not be using up any poilitical capital. That would be welcomed by the EU. 

  4. Anonymous says:

    Please leave the Cayman islands OFF the list. We do not want folks from Europe to simply get on British Airways and land here without any immigration controls. This will be a one way process like what destroyed the UK. Thanks but no thanks.

    • Savannah Resident says:

      Hmmm reality check buddy…look at immigration.gov.ky, under the section of exempted countries requiring viasa.   Almost if not all countries within the EU don't require visas when entering Cayman. 

      *facepalm*

    • Anonymous says:

      Caymunkind.

    • Anonymous says:

      Yes, those damn Luxembourgeois, clogging up Britain's streets, stealing our beer, our women… It's political correctness gone mad!

  5. Anonymous says:

    But some on this forum keep contending I can live and work anywhere in Europe. It seems I cannot even lawfully visit without a visa.

    • Anonymous says:

      Get the British passport, which is an administrative task.  Then Bob is your proverbial uncle.

      • Anonymous says:

        I am not entitled to even apply for a British Passport. I am a Caymanian but not aBOTC.

  6. Anonymous says:

    Now why wouldn't they wants Jams on the list? There must be some kind of rational explanation, surely. Any ideas, anybody?

  7. Anonymous says:

    What – Jamaica not on that list?!

  8. Anonymous says:

    If you let Trinidad in you may a let Jamaica in. Letting Trinidad in and not Jamaica is a slap in the fact to Jamaica who still respects and recognises the Queen as its head. I know Jamaicans have caused problems in the UK but dont think for a minute that the Trinis wont cause the same problems if they are given unlimited access to the UK