The European Commission and the US Department of Homeland Security agreed that America was to negotiate simultaneously with the EU and its respective member states on the issue of including more countries in its Visa Waiver Program.

The agreement was announced Thursday by the official representatives of the two sides after the meeting of EU Commissioner of Justice, Freedom, and Security Franco Frattini, and the US Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff in Brdo, Slovenia.

The negotiations are going to be launched as soon as possible, and on matters that refer to the national responsibilities of each country, the US is going to negotiate with the respective member states, whereas on matters of the EU common policy and responsibilities, America will have to conduct talks with the European institutions.

The United States already signed Visa Waiver Program agreements with the Czech Republic, Estonia, and Latvia, which caused a conflict within the EU between the European Commission trying to get a deal "en block", and the individual member states already meeting the US criteria for visa-free travel.

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