Status: 08/31/2022 3:48 p.m
The EU is suspending the agreement with Russia to facilitate visas for travelers. This makes visas for Russian citizens more expensive and more difficult to obtain – but there is no entry stop.
The EU will completely suspend an agreement concluded with Russia to facilitate the issuing of visas for travellers. This was announced by EU foreign policy chief Borrell after consultations with EU foreign ministers in Prague.
The move is another punitive measure in response to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. This should make it easier for member states to impose entry restrictions on Russians. This also makes visas more expensive and takes longer to process. The number of new visas for Russian citizens is to be “significantly reduced,” said Borrell.
However, a complete visa freeze, as requested by Ukraine and Eastern European countries, is not planned after the basic agreement.
Baerbock: Entry is still possible
Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said that in future it could take months for Russians to submit applications. At the same time, according to them, it will still be possible to allow students and journalists to enter the country, for example. The aim is also to prevent people from turning against the EU rather than against their own president out of frustration about Western sanctions.
So far, the visa facilitation agreement that came into force in 2007 has only been suspended for business people, government officials and diplomats. This decision was made on February 25, shortly after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.