U.S. Authorizes, E.U. Considers ‘Electronic Travel Authorization System’

Travel Blog • Michael Yessis • 08.08.07 | 11:28 AM ET

Travelers heading from Europe to the U.S. will soon be answering some questions. What’s more, according to Spiegel Online, “Now that Washington has passed a law requiring visa-free passengers from Europe to answer questionnaires online before they board a plane for the United States, the European Union may set up a similar system of ‘electronic travel authorization’ (ETA) for Americans coming to Europe.” The U.S. legislation was part of the “Anti-Terror Bill” President George W. Bush signed last week. A spokesman for E.U. Justice and Home Affairs Commissioner Franco Frattini responded yesterday, saying that a similar system targeting U.S. travelers is under consideration.

It’s “tit-for-tat,” but U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff said no offense taken. “It ought to be reciprocal,” he said. “We are perfectly content to have Europe impose the same basic approach. I think that is fair.”

Australia already has a similar program in place.