EU foreign ministers decided on Wednesday to sharply reduce the number of visas issued to Russian tourists, as the bilateral visa agreement is suspended.
However, there will not be a total visa ban because the EU does not want to completely shut down travel.
This was stated by EU Foreign Affairs Chief Josep Borrell at a press conference after the foreign ministers' meeting in Prague.
”Russians are traveling for pleasure and shopping as if the war were not going on,” he said.
Furthermore, EU countries bordering Russia are allowed to introduce national, more restrictive rules. Each EU country has considerable scope for national measures under the Schengen rules, he said.
”Since mid-July, there has been a large increase in border crossings into neighboring countries,” he said.
It should also not be possible for Russian tourists to shop around between EU countries for the most advantageous visa regulations.
In addition, Russian passports issued in occupied Ukrainian territory will not be accepted in the EU.
Josep Borrell recalled that the EU has already imposed travel bans on a large number of leading figures in Russia who support the Ukraine war.
Regarding the large number of visas that have already been issued, the European Commission will study how they should be handled.
The border countries Poland, the three Baltic states and Finland have been the strongest advocates for a visa freeze.
Germany and France have argued against a stop.
Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto said that Finland will limit the number of tourist visas granted to Russians to 10 percent of the previous amount.
”It is important to show that the visa process should not continue as normal while Ukraine is suffering,” he said.
On Wednesday, EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson also wrote on Twitter that the EU has already reached its goal of filling its natural gas storage to 80 percent. The goal was to do so by November 1.
”"Let's continue to replenish where levels are lower and implement the EU's plan to reduce demand. This will help us get through the winter," she wrote.
Source: Dagens Industri
