Czech PM stresses need for EU action over Canadian visas

Czech Prime Minister Jan Fischer on Tuesday welcomed expressions of EU solidarity over Canada’s re-imposition of visas on Czechs. But Mr Fischer underlined that what Prague is really seeking is EU action that would force Canada to return to a visa-free regime. The prime minister was speaking after a meeting with President Václav Klaus. EU foreign ministers on Monday voiced their solidarity with the Czech Republic over the re-imposition of visas on July 14 but did not discuss retaliatory steps. The European Commission should first of all come up with its stand by September. Canadian authorities said on Tuesday they had given out 1,360 visas so far with less than 1.0 percent of applications refused.