"Nobody can argue that diplomatic sanctions such as a visa requirement would not be a serious step, so it should be proposed and taken with full support by the member states." EU Justice and Security Commissioner Franco Frattini commenting on a recommendation by the European Commission on October 4 that "appropriate steps vis-a-vis the United States could be envisaged," such as "temporarily restoring the visa requirement for US nationals holding diplomatic and duty/official passports." The EC proposed the visas in response to the refusal of the US to lift visa requirements for all EU member states. |
