Since 2007, Russians have received EU visas easily and cheaply. Now this is coming to a stop.
The majority of EU countries want to limit the granting of visas to Russian tourists.
The issue will be discussed at the meeting of EU foreign ministers in Prague today and tomorrow.
In this case, it will be clear whether the EU will find a common tone for the restrictions.
Russian tourism in the middle of the war is considered wrong
Russian tourists vacationing in the EU is widely considered wrong because the country is at the same time waging a war of conquest in Ukraine.
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and the Czech Republic have already stopped issuing visas to Russian tourists. Estonia has also canceled the visas it has already issued.
Finland decided two weeks ago that it will reduce the reception of visa applications from Russia to only one tenth of the previous level.
Some countries oppose strict restrictions. For example, Greece and Cyprus share this opinion, and Russian tourism is an important source of income for Italy and Spain as well.
The EU is also somewhat unanimous that those fleeing the situation in Russia should be offered the opportunity to move to the West. Few countries are ready to put a complete ban on visits to relatives either.
The EU is looking for ways to select
It is estimated that EU foreign ministers are now looking for ways to limit the issuance of visas.
Finland supports an EU-level solution in order to make the measures more effective.
– If we want to limit the flow of tourists more, it would be good to agree on that together, the foreign minister traveling to Prague Pekka Haavisto (green) said when Finland announced its own restrictions.
of the Financial Times according to the information (you will switch to another service) The EU would like to freeze the visa facilitation agreement. Since 2007, the agreement has made it easier for Russians to obtain visas for the EU region. Freezing would make visas more expensive and harder to obtain.
In addition, the EU can look for ways to deny visa applications of individual unwanted persons and limit the right to travel throughout the EU area with a visa issued by one country.
Ukraine is pressuring the EU to ban
The meeting of foreign ministers in Prague is informal. Possible decisions are not yet binding.
Ukraine strongly supports a visa ban for Russians.
– Russians should live in their own world until they change their ways of thinking, the president of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi comment (you will switch to another service) For the Washington Post.