Seven countries in Central and Eastern Europe including Romania have employed a lobby firm to press for the US Congress to discuss the extension of the visa waiver program to countries in the region.

According to electronic journal Jurnalo.com, the seven countries pay a monthly fee of 5,000 USD each to the Dutko Worldwide lobby firm to promote their visa agenda.

The journal quotes the spokesman of the Czech Foreign Ministry as the source of the information.

Spokesman Zuzana Opletova told Jurnalo.com that the company should cover the activity of the CEE countries’ embassies considering that the visa issue was not a priority for the US Congress.

According to Romanian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Corina Vantan, Romania will most probably join the initiative, but the contract is yet to receive formal approval at Romanian ministry level.