WASHINGTON, Oct 8, 2008 (AFP) - Slovakia and the United States signed a bilateral agreement in Washington on Wednesday that paves the way for Slovaks to visit the United States without first procuring a visa.

'I commend our Slovak partners for this important step toward an expanded and more secure visa waiver program,' said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff after co-signing the pact with Slovak Interior Minister Robert Kalinak.

Under the agreement, Bratislava and Washington will share travellers' details, intelligence on terrorism suspects, and information about lost and stolen passports. The two sides will also ensure beefed-up security at airports.

'The agreement is the final substantive step by the Slovak Republic to fulfill its requirements for designation as a member of the visa waiver program,' the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement.

Twenty-seven nations -- including 15 within the European Union -- are currently part of the scheme that enables their nationals to enter the United States without a visa for business or pleasure.

Frustrated by a lack of progress in negotiations between Washington and Brussels on an EU-wide visa exemption, eight new EU member states opened bilateral talks with the United States on the issue, despite protests from their EU partners.