OUR European Union terminates the agreement with Russia to facilitate the issuance of visas, as announced Joseph Borelafter the meeting of foreign ministers.
This suspension removes preferential treatment for Russianswhen applying for all EU visas and therefore will now be required more documents and waiting timeas well as their publication becomes more expensive.
“We have agreed on a complete suspension of the visa facilitation agreement between the EU and Russia,” Borrell said at a press conference following a two-day meeting of foreign ministers in Prague. “This will significantly reduce the number of new visas issued by EU Member States. It will be more difficult, it will take longer,” he added.
According to diplomatic sources cited by Reuters, EU foreign ministers failed to agree on general visa ban for Russiansas the member states are divided on this issue.
“We are seeing a significant increase in border crossings from Russia to neighboring states. This is a security risk. Therefore, today we have agreed with the EU foreign ministers on the complete suspension of the visa facilitation agreement between the EU and Russia,” the head of EU diplomacy noted in a related tweet, adding: “In addition, we saw many Russians traveling for leisure and shopping as if war is not raging in Ukraine.”
We are seeing a significant increase in border crossings from Russia to neighboring states. It becomes a security risk.
Therefore, today we have agreed with the EU foreign ministers on the complete suspension of the visa facilitation agreement between the EU and Russia. pic.twitter.com/zdowgdOa8F
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) August 31, 2022
The decision was taken at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Prague, where a proposal was made Baltic countries and some othersstop issuing entry visas to the Schengen area for Russians.
Nordic and Eastern European countries have strongly advocated a complete ban on tourist visas for Russians in response to Moscow’s actions in Ukrainesaying that traveling to Europe is a privilege, not a right.
Netherlands
Recall that yesterday the Netherlands made it clear that they would support proposals to ban Russian tourists from entering the European Union.
“We would like to make a distinction between the Russian state and its citizens. But at the same time, we see that most of the people who come here are far from rich Russians who often have ties to the regime,” said the Dutch foreign minister. Bopke Hoekstra.
Kremlin
The Kremlin has criticized calls by some European leaders to impose a visa ban on Russian tourists, saying the proposals are “absurd” and the latest manifestation of the West’s anti-Russian agenda.
“Gradually, unfortunately, both Brussels and individual European capitals demonstrate a complete lack of logic,” the Kremlin spokesman said. Dmitry Peskov. He added that Europe’s actions towards Russia are “a little far from insanity.” “Of course, such decisions cannot go unanswered,” he stressed, without specifying how Russia might react.
Source: Kathimerini
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