Brussels - The European Union warned Monday that plans by the United States to levy a 10-dollar charge to visitors could discourage European tourists and prompt Brussels to retaliate. As of this year, visitors to the US who do not require a visa must register online at least three days before their arrival. And Washington lawmakers are now discussing whether to add a 10-dollar fee to the registration process.
But a European Commission spokesman said the introduction of a fee would represent "a step backward in our joint endeavour to ease transatlantic mobility".
Michele Cercone said the move would also require "a new assessment by the European Commission to evaluate whether ... it is tantamount to a visa or not."
Should this be the case, the bloc might have to consider visas for US travellers, EU officials said.
A total of 29 European countries, mostly EU member states, participate in the US' Visa Waiver Program.
