Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BRUSSELS1220
2009-09-04 15:25:00
CONFIDENTIAL
USEU Brussels
Cable title:
EUROPEAN UNION EXPRESSES CONCERN ABOUT PROPOSED
how-toVZCZCXRO9062 OO RUEHAG RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR DE RUEHBS #1220 2471525 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 041525Z SEP 09 FM USEU BRUSSELS TO RHEFHLC/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 001220
SIPDIS
STATE FOR CA A/S JACOBS, CA/VO/L/P GREWE, CA/P LAWRENCE,
AND EUR/ERA LUCAS
DHS FOR PLCY/OIA KOUMAN AND SCARDAVILLE, PLCY/PDEV FREY
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/04/2019
TAGS: CVIS CMGT PREL SMIG EU
SUBJECT: EUROPEAN UNION EXPRESSES CONCERN ABOUT PROPOSED
ESTA FEE
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, Christopher W. Murray, for reasons
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 001220
SIPDIS
STATE FOR CA A/S JACOBS, CA/VO/L/P GREWE, CA/P LAWRENCE,
AND EUR/ERA LUCAS
DHS FOR PLCY/OIA KOUMAN AND SCARDAVILLE, PLCY/PDEV FREY
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/04/2019
TAGS: CVIS CMGT PREL SMIG EU
SUBJECT: EUROPEAN UNION EXPRESSES CONCERN ABOUT PROPOSED
ESTA FEE
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, Christopher W. Murray, for reasons 1.
4(b) and (d)
1. (C) Summary: On September 3, 2009, USEU Charge d'Affaires
was demarched by the European Commission's Directorate
General for Justice, Freedom and Security o EU concerns
about the proposed fee for the Electronic System for travel
Authorization (ESTA) contained in the Travel Promotion Act of
2009. Specifically, the EU fears the fee is incompatible
with the goal of facilitating transatlantic trade and travel,
discriminates against visa waiver travelers, is detrimental
to security and will likely lead the EU to reassess whether
ESTA should be characterized as a visa. The Charge agreed to
pass EU concerns to the Administration. End Summary.
2. (C) The Commission was represented by the Director for
North American Affairs in the DG for External Relations Alan
Seatter and the Director of General Affairs in the DG for
Justice, Freedom and Security Monique Pariat. The Charge was
accompanied by the DHS and consular attaches. Both Mr.
Seatter and Ms. Pariat highlighted the enhanced cooperation
between the EU and United States on a broad range of issues
and lamented the fact that the legislative proposal to add a
$10.00 fee to the ESTA program ran counter to the shared goal
of enhancing transatlantic trade and travel. The ESTA fee,
intended to fund a corporation promoting travel to the United
States, might lead people to avoid travel to the U.S. They
also characterized the fee as discriminatory as, unlike an
exit tax, it would not be levied on all travelers, including
American citizens, only persons traveling with an approved
ESTA. In addition, they opined that the fee may discourage
travelers from registering with ESTA early in case their
plans changed and they lose the fee, reducing the time the
U.S. has to vet the information. Ms. Pariat stated that if
the fee was implemented, the Commission would be forced to
reexamine whether ESTA was a security program or a "disguised
visa." If it concluded that ESTA had become a visa, it could
lead to a reciprocal visa fee being imposed on U.S. travelers
to the EU, further dampening transatlantic travel.
3. (SBU) The Charge thanked his interlocutors for their
assessment of the ESTA fee and lauded the spirit of
cooperation between the United States and EU. He noted that
the fee was currently under consideration by the U.S.
Congress. He said he would transmit the concerns of the
Commission and the EU Member States to the appropriate USG
agencies in Washington.
MURRAY
.
SIPDIS
STATE FOR CA A/S JACOBS, CA/VO/L/P GREWE, CA/P LAWRENCE,
AND EUR/ERA LUCAS
DHS FOR PLCY/OIA KOUMAN AND SCARDAVILLE, PLCY/PDEV FREY
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/04/2019
TAGS: CVIS CMGT PREL SMIG EU
SUBJECT: EUROPEAN UNION EXPRESSES CONCERN ABOUT PROPOSED
ESTA FEE
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, Christopher W. Murray, for reasons 1.
4(b) and (d)
1. (C) Summary: On September 3, 2009, USEU Charge d'Affaires
was demarched by the European Commission's Directorate
General for Justice, Freedom and Security o EU concerns
about the proposed fee for the Electronic System for travel
Authorization (ESTA) contained in the Travel Promotion Act of
2009. Specifically, the EU fears the fee is incompatible
with the goal of facilitating transatlantic trade and travel,
discriminates against visa waiver travelers, is detrimental
to security and will likely lead the EU to reassess whether
ESTA should be characterized as a visa. The Charge agreed to
pass EU concerns to the Administration. End Summary.
2. (C) The Commission was represented by the Director for
North American Affairs in the DG for External Relations Alan
Seatter and the Director of General Affairs in the DG for
Justice, Freedom and Security Monique Pariat. The Charge was
accompanied by the DHS and consular attaches. Both Mr.
Seatter and Ms. Pariat highlighted the enhanced cooperation
between the EU and United States on a broad range of issues
and lamented the fact that the legislative proposal to add a
$10.00 fee to the ESTA program ran counter to the shared goal
of enhancing transatlantic trade and travel. The ESTA fee,
intended to fund a corporation promoting travel to the United
States, might lead people to avoid travel to the U.S. They
also characterized the fee as discriminatory as, unlike an
exit tax, it would not be levied on all travelers, including
American citizens, only persons traveling with an approved
ESTA. In addition, they opined that the fee may discourage
travelers from registering with ESTA early in case their
plans changed and they lose the fee, reducing the time the
U.S. has to vet the information. Ms. Pariat stated that if
the fee was implemented, the Commission would be forced to
reexamine whether ESTA was a security program or a "disguised
visa." If it concluded that ESTA had become a visa, it could
lead to a reciprocal visa fee being imposed on U.S. travelers
to the EU, further dampening transatlantic travel.
3. (SBU) The Charge thanked his interlocutors for their
assessment of the ESTA fee and lauded the spirit of
cooperation between the United States and EU. He noted that
the fee was currently under consideration by the U.S.
Congress. He said he would transmit the concerns of the
Commission and the EU Member States to the appropriate USG
agencies in Washington.
MURRAY
.