Britons charged to enter EU in ‘revenge for Brexit’
BRUSSELS is slapping a visa charge on British holidaymakers wanting to enter Europe from the end of next year, in an act of revenge for Brexit.
Brexiteers said the £6 fee was a brazen reflection of the EU’s antiBritish attitude.
Former Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage told the Daily Express that the decision “sums up the failing EU” and called on the Government to avoid charging Europeans – and instead welcome them.
He added: “We are an open, selfconfident trading nation and want Europeans to come here and spend their money.” He spoke after European Commission officials said they were “on track” to introduce the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) from the start of 2023. Britons will have to provide information about their identity, passport, education, job, recent travel and criminal convictions before they enter the bloc.
Each visa is valid for three years and can be used for multiple trips. The fee is waived for under-18s and over-70s.
ETIAS has been compared to the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) used to visit the US.
Tory MP Peter Bone said it was a sign of antiBritishness in the wake of Brexit.
He added: “It doesn’t surprise me, it’s just another part of the anti-UK attitude they’ve taken since we left.”
The senior backbencher said EU nations reliant on tourism would be “pretty damn furious” by the introduction of yet more red tape for foreign travellers. “Many of these countries rely heavily on inward tourism for their financial wellbeing. It’s counterproductive to what they want.”
Conservative peer Lord Moylan said: “By all means, they’re free to do it if they want to, but what are they achieving except losing friends and pulling up the drawbridge? These aren’t countries any more, they’re becoming provinces of a superstate.”
Former Brexit minister David Jones said: “Considering how dependent much of the EU is on UK tourism, it’s surprising to hear they now want us to pay for the privilege of visiting.”
EU officials say they have streamlined the application form so it will only take “a few minutes” to complete.
The Commission said: “ETIAS forms part of the EU’s ongoing work to put in place a state-ofthe-art external border management system and making sure that information systems work together in an intelligent and targeted way.”
Home Secretary Priti Patel previously announced similar plans for foreigners entering the UK, but no details have been released.