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Traveling to Europe may start feeling a lot more like trying to get into Cuba and Congo. For generations, skipping across the pond was as easy as catching your flight and clearing customs. But in an announcement on Friday, the European Parliament has voted to end visa-free travel for Americans visiting five European countries which include Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Poland and Romania.

Normally, no visa is required for American to visit any European countries, but after the European Commission implements the new laws, American travelers will be required to apply for extra documents for any travel to the five countries for 12 months.

There is no word yet on when the visa requirements will take affect, but according to a report from Reuters, a Commission official said contacts are ongoing with the U.S. administration "to push for full visa reciprocity," but fell short of saying that immediate action would be taken. However, the vote to implement visas also urged the Commission to adopt restrictive measures against U.S. citizens "within two months" so anyone planning to take a trip to Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Poland and Romania might have a few new and unexpected hoops to jump through starting in May.

The change in visa requirements is the continuation of what some are calling a visa war between the European Commission and the US, and comes on the tail of a recent discovery by the EC. The commission found three years ago that the US (along with Australia, Brunei, Japan and Canada) have not met obligations under the reciprocity agreement. However, no visa requirements are being made for Australia, Brunei, Japan and Canadaonly the U.S.

Requiring visas from U.S. travelers is a response from the U.S. Capitals refusal to grant visa-free access to people from four east European states and Cyprus, while those from the other 23 member states can enter using the U.S. visa waiver program. Since EU law requires equal treatment for all Union citizens, this seems to be a tit-for-tat response to Washington.

The visa requirement will surely have a negative affect on tourism dollars, but as for how it will affect travelers, experts say that any real inconveniences may just be a flash in the political pan. In light of the recent announcement by the EU Parliament, we do not anticipate any changes for American travelers, with several reports indicating that actual policy change is highly unlikely."

Leigh Barnes, the regional director of Intrepid Travel in North America, says. Intrepid Travel, the world's largest adventure travel company, offers trips to all five of the European countries affected by the visa requirements besides Cyprus. "Europe, specifically Croatia, has been among our most popular destinations for American travelers in 2017. This announcement should be seen first and foremost as a political statement and we do not foresee it effecting travel between the United States and European Union."

As far as it goes for those with travel plans to Poland or Cypris within the next few months, Barnes recommends that travelers not let let political pettiness get the best of their chance to experience the world. "Amidst this on going visa-saga, the most important and impactful thing people can do is to continue traveling, crossing borders and fully embracing all this world has to offer," he says.

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The European Union Announces the End of Visa-Free Travel - Men's Journal

The European Union has received formal notification of 21st Century Foxs intention to takeover European pay-TV operator Sky in a 11.7 billion ($14.3 billion) deal. The move triggers a regulatory process that could result in the deal being blocked.

Karen Bradley, the U.K.s Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, said Friday that she is likely to refer the deal to the media regulator on two public interest grounds: media plurality and broadcasting standards.

Fox and Sky can now make further written representations, and Bradley has 10 working days to decide whether to issue a European Intervention Notice. This would trigger action by media regulator Ofcom to look at the issues and report back to Bradley, who would have the final say.

The proposed deal was first announced on Dec. 9 when Sky revealed it had received an approach from Fox to acquire the remaining 61% share of Sky it does not already own.

Bradley will inform the U.K. Parliament on progress of the take-over and her role in relation to it on Monday.

A Fox spokeswoman said: As we have previously indicated, we anticipate regulators will undertake a thorough review of the transaction, and we look forward to engaging with them as appropriate. We are confident that the transaction will be approved based on a compelling fact set.

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Fox Formally Notifies European Union of Sky Takeover - Variety

European Union HQ in Brussels. | File Photo

WARSAW: A Polish member of the European Parliament has launched another sexist tirade, calling it a "20th-century stereotype that women have the same intellectual potential as men," and that the stereotype "must be destroyed because it is not true."

Janusz Korwin-Mikke's insults on Friday in Warsaw came two days after he told the European Parliament that "women must earn less than men because they are weaker, they are smaller, they are less intelligent."

The president of the Parliament opened an investigation Thursday into the comments, for which Korwin-Mikke could face sanctions such as a reprimand, a fine or a temporary suspension.

His latest blast came after he was challenged by female lawmakers during a visit to the Polish parliament in Warsaw. Joanna Scheuring-Wielgus, from the Modern party, accused him of offending women and said she would not allow him to do it again.

"There are more women than men in Poland, we're better educated, and I will not let you offend Polish women, European women and women all over the world. It's a disgrace," she told him.

Korwin-Mikke has a history of getting attention for outrageous comments, including comparing the European Union to the Third Reich.

In 2015, he raised his arm in a Nazi salute to make a political point in the European Parliament, the EU's elected legislative arm, forcing the centrist government in Warsaw at the time to apologize and express shame for his behavior.

Korwin-Mikke heads a small party which won just under 5 percent of the vote in Poland's last parliamentary election in 2015, failing to clear the 5 percent threshold to get any seats.

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Polish European Union lawmaker says women intellectually inferior to men - The New Indian Express

GETTY

But in the meantime the bills from Brussels keep dropping on the mat. Pricey security arrangements for MEPs are just one item, a unit of 46 bodyguards, with 12 of them assigned to protect the European Parliaments president Antonio Tajani.

It is being called a private army and this is clearly no exaggeration.

Both the guards and their drivers will also have to make a monthly round-trip to Strasbourg which will cost a further million or so euros. The profligacy is never ending.

But this extravagant outlay is simply part of a 1.7billion spending binge as the EU tries to squeeze as much as possible out of British taxpayers while it still can.

Our contribution is expected to be around 230million.

GETTY

Another expense is what we will put towards a pro-EU publicity campaign (a strong citizen-centric message) in advance of the 2019 European elections.

Britons of course will not be taking part in these elections as we will have left the EU by then.

On one hand this vast expenditure is cause for fury.

But it is also a useful indication of how much British taxpayers money is sucked into the bottomless pit that is the EU.

While any further expenditure is deeply regrettable it is a salutary reminder of the wisdom of more than 17 million British people when last June they voted to leave.

GETTY

Mrs May had a tough message for Nicola Sturgeon in her address yesterday to the Scottish Conservatives in Glasgow.

She accused the First Minister of treating politics as if it were a game and the SNP administration of tunnel-vision nationalism.

She stated forcefully that there was no economic case for breaking up the United Kingdom.

She also pointed out the failings of the Scottish government in education and health.

It was stirring stuff and brought to mind that the union of our four nations England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales is precious, unique in the world and not something which we should abandon lightly.

The independence referendum showed most Scots are aware of this. Nicola Sturgeon is indeed playing a dangerous game.

GETTY

IF the Queen moves her handbag from hand to hand or places it on a table then it is a secret signal to her people that she wants to talk to someone else or is preparing to make her exit.

Mrs Thatcher was accused of handbagging but this is far more subtle.

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Express view: EU Army is reminder of why we need to leave European Union - Express.co.uk

New York Times

EU, Pressured from Inside and Out, Considers a Reboot New York Times Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European Commission, in Brussels on Wednesday. He will deliver a speech that will offer different scenarios for the future of the European Union including some that could roll back his powers. Credit Olivier ... Commission outlines 5 scenarios for future of EU in white paperPOLITICO.eu 'Stop bashing the EU', Jean-Claude Juncker tells European leadersThe Guardian EU Presents Five Visions for The Future of EuropeVoice of America EU News -Breitbart News -Express.co.uk all 178 news articles »

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EU, Pressured from Inside and Out, Considers a Reboot - New York Times