Poland and the three Baltic states are considering the possibility of banning or unilaterally limiting the issuance of visas to Russian citizens if there is no agreement on this at the European level, France Presse reported on Wednesday, Agerpres reported.

European foreign ministers at a meeting in Prague on Wednesday were divided over the possibility of banning or restricting access of Russian tourists to the European Union as punishment for the war in Ukraine, as demanded by Kyiv.

In the absence of consensus on Schengen visa restrictions, which requires the unanimity of member states, the 27 could agree to completely suspend the 2007 agreement between the EU and Moscow, which provides for the possibility of issuing short-term visas, a simplified procedure and a faster one.

After the start of the conflict, this agreement was partially suspended by the EU for some Russian citizens associated with the regime of Russian President Vladimir Putin (official delegates, holders of diplomatic passports, business leaders, etc.), but others continued to benefit. of this. Without these facilities, the classic procedure for obtaining a visa to the Schengen area (22 EU countries, as well as Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein), which is longer and more expensive, will apply.

In a joint statement seen by AFP, Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, which border Russia, said a total suspension would be a “necessary first step” but that the number of visas issued, especially tourist visas, should be “drastically reduced”. limited”, to reduce the flow of Russian citizens to the EU and the Schengen zone”.

“Time is of the essence, and the loss of time is paid for by Ukrainians in blood”

“Prior to the application of such measures at the EU level, we will (…) consider the introduction of temporary visa ban measures or entry restrictions at the national level for Russian citizens holding EU visas,” they added in their statement, while supporting exceptions “for dissidents and other humanitarian cases.”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia, Urmas Reinsalu, said that the conclusion of a European agreement that “bans the entry of Russian citizens into the EU” may take time, and “time is crucial, and the loss of time is paid for by Ukrainians in blood.”

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in Copenhagen estimated that Russians should not receive any visas, “except for humanitarian ones.”

The Czech Republic, the Baltic States and Poland have already tightened the visa regime to varying degrees (a complete ban or only for tourists), with exceptions.

Finland, through which many Russian tourists on their way to the Schengen area transit, and which processes about 1,000 visa applications per day, decided to reduce the number of visas issued to Russian tourists to 10% of this volume from September 1.

“EU countries can close their borders for security reasons, many have already reduced their consular services (to Russia), and there are numerous ways to limit the entry of Russians (to the EU) without a complete ban” on issuing visas, the diplomat commented. the source

However, “legally, countries can block Schengen visas issued by other countries. If Lithuania (or other states) wants to prevent Russians from entering the country, it can do so at the national level by decision of its Minister of Internal Affairs,” the source admitted.

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