The EU has backed tighter visa restrictions for russians

The proposal to further tighten visa restrictions on russian citizens received broad support from the heads of the European Union’s foreign ministries, stated the head of the EU’s External Action Service, Kaja Kallas, following an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Wicklow, Ireland, on Wednesday, 2 September. This involves a ban on entry to the EU for russian combatants in Ukraine, as well as stricter restrictions on the issuance of tourist visas to russians.

At the meeting, “there was broad support for pushing ahead with an EU entry ban on russian former combatants and stricter visa restrictions for russian tourists,” Kallas said at a press conference.

However, the EU’s top diplomat did not specify the exact new restrictions for russian tourists, the likely timing of their introduction, or which categories of russian citizens these measures might affect.

Kallas acknowledged that there is as yet no unified position amongst EU member states regarding the further tightening of visa restrictions. According to her, some countries have so far opposed further steps in this direction.

The issue has taken on added relevance following the hybrid attack in Leipzig, for which Berlin blamed Moscow on 1 September. At the closing press conference, Callas was asked about reports suggesting that one of the suspects implicated in the attack may have entered the EU on a tourist visa issued by Italy.

The head of the EU’s foreign policy service emphasised that these reports must be confirmed or refuted by the German authorities. However, she said that if the information is true, it shows that visas can be used to enter the EU by potential perpetrators intent on causing harm. She added that many EU countries have pointed out that tourist visas are used in the preparation of sabotage operations, as those carrying them out need to gain access to EU territory.

Kallas also reported that many ministers had raised the issue of visa restrictions during discussions on russia’s war against Ukraine. “It is not normal for a country to be bombing Ukraine and killing civilians – in July and August more than at any other time during this war – whilst at the same time russians are entering and enjoying the hospitality of European countries. This should not be the case,” said Kallas.

The ban on entry to the EU for russians who are participating in hostilities against Ukraine is being discussed separately from a possible tightening of the rules for russian tourists in general.

In July, European Union representatives reported that this measure had, in general, already been agreed upon, but that practical and legal issues regarding its implementation still needed to be resolved. In particular, the sanctions restrictions must be aligned with existing visa and Schengen rules, and it must be determined what evidence must be provided to deny entry to a specific individual. Once the rules for implementation have been agreed, the Council of the EU must give its final approval. At the time, the European Commission hoped to complete this work by October at the latest.

Source: DW