(WASHINGTON) - New European Union member Bulgaria on Tuesday edged closer to visa-free travel to the United States when Bulgarian and US officials signed a declaration agreeing to step up security cooperation.

"I commend the Republic of Bulgaria for its commitment to these security enhancements and our shared values of freedom and security," said Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff, who signed the Visa Waiver Program interim declaration on behalf of the United States.

Foreign Minister Ivailo Kalfin signed on behalf of Bulgaria.

Security measures covered by the interim declaration include better information-sharing about international travel and border screening; improved information exchange on known and suspected terrorists; better reporting of lost and stolen passports; and the development of an air marshal program.

The measures must be implemented for a country to meet the requirements of the US visa waiver program, which has existed for more than 20 years but was reformed last year, primarily to strengthen security arrangements required of countries in the scheme or hoping to join it.

Nationals of only 15 EU member states, including just one from the former communist bloc, Slovenia, can travel to the United States without a visa at present.

Although the European Commission has jurisdiction for visa reciprocity with third countries and traditionally negotiates such deals on behalf of the entire EU membership, Washington began working out bilateral deals with EU members in February.

In addition to Bulgaria on Tuesday, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia have signed visa waiver program interim declarations with Washington.

Signing such a declaration provides no guarantee that a country will be allowed to fully sign on to the visa waiver program.

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