Visa checks 'useless against terrorists': Commissioner

(ATHENS) - The European Union should make it easier for foreign tourists to visit the bloc, a senior EU official said on Monday, arguing that ardent visa checks did little to keep determined terrorists out.

"I do not believe that visas can help check terrorism, because terrorists have European passports or in many cases forged passports," said Antonio Tajani, a vice-president of the European Commission in charge of industry.

"The US have already modified their regulations for tourists arriving from Brazil and China. I believe that we should do more for Russians and Chinese, as the Russians mainly are affluent tourists," the Italian official said.

Tajani was speaking during a working visit to Greece, which in the summer implemented a three-month pilot initiative that made it easier for travellers from non-EU destinations to visit.

"This led to an increase to visitors for all of Europe, and for Greece specifically it led to an increase in travellers from Russia, China and Turkey," said the bloc's Greek commissioner for maritime affairs, Maria Damanaki.

"There is now a discussion at the European Commission to make these measures more permanent and this is something that will help Greece," Damanaki said.

Tourism is one of the main pillars of Greek economy which is facing its worst recession in decades.