The UK government has welcomed proposals from the European Commission for reciprocal visa-free access across Europe.
The European Commission today proposed that British travellers should not require visas across Europe after leaving the European Union, provided that the UK offers the same to EU nationals.
This was announced on Tuesday in Strasbourg as part of EU contingency plans in the case of a ‘no-deal’ Brexit.
If this gains approval from the European Parliament and the Council, UK citizens would not need a visa when travelling to the Schengen area stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period if the UK leave the EU on of March 29 without a deal in place.
If a Brexit deal is reached this would apply as of the end of the transition period, as outlined in the Withdrawal Agreement.
In a statement, the European Commission said: “This proposal is entirely conditional upon the UK also granting reciprocal and non-discriminatory visa-free travel for all EU Member States, in line with the principle of visa reciprocity.”
The UK government spokesman from the Department for Exiting the European Union told Travel Weekly: “We welcome the proposal by the European Commission, which reflects the future relationship that the UK wants with the rest of the EU.
“We have been clear in our proposals that we want to ensure reciprocal measures on visa-free travel for tourists and short-term business visitors with the EU.”