Eleven European countries have asked the European Commission to strengthen restrictions on Russian nationals wishing to enter the Schengen Area. In a letter addressed to Brussels, nine EU member states (including Poland, Finland, the Baltic states, the Netherlands, and Sweden), as well as Norway and Iceland, argue that the measures currently in place are no longer sufficient in the face of the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The signatories find it unacceptable that Russian citizens can continue to travel to Europe for tourism while Moscow pursues its military operations against Ukraine. They point out that approximately 478.000 visas were issued to Russian nationals last year, a large proportion of which allowed multiple entries into the Schengen Area.
Tourist visas and targeted veterans
Beyond the symbolic dimension, the states behind this initiative also highlight security concerns. In particular, they want the European Union to establish mechanisms for more effectively identifying Russian military personnel, both former and active, in order to deny them access to European territory. The authors of the letter thus call for new "restrictive and binding" measures at the EU level.
Since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the European Union has progressively tightened visa requirements for Russian citizens. The agreement facilitating visa issuance has been suspended, and multiple-entry visas have been severely restricted. Despite this, several countries, such as France, Spain, and Italy, continue to grant a significant number of visas, arguing that sanctions should target those responsible within the Russian regime rather than the entire population. This position is also shared by some Kremlin opponents, who fear that the complete isolation of Russian citizens would further bolster Moscow's propaganda.
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