In two weeks, the Foreign Ministers of EU member states will discuss the possibility of amending the Schengen Law to reduce the issuance of visas to all Russians, with a number of exceptions, at an informal meeting in Prague on 31 August. Categories of Russian citizens, reports TASS Citing a source in Brussels.
“The question of the possibility of significantly reducing the number of Schengen visas issued to Russian citizens by all EU countries in an organized way will be raised by a number of states, in particular Estonia and Finland.
We will talk about both the amendment of the Schengen Law, which does not allow the complete suspension of the issuance of Schengen visas on a national basis, and the possible joint actions of EU countries within the framework of their existing national competencies.
According to him, at the initial stage, the creation of a voluntary system of several times reducing the number of tourist visas issued to Russians per day will be considered – EU countries that are already ready for such a step will be able to participate immediately. this schema.
It is assumed that this system will make it possible to establish the most appropriate forms of visa restrictions, which other EU countries can subsequently join.
“It is unlikely to completely refuse to issue a Schengen visa, because there are always categories of citizens who need to obtain such visas – civic activists, representatives of the opposition, journalists, people who need to travel for humanitarian reasons, especially for emergency treatment,” the diplomat explained.
He declined to comment on the idea of forcing all Russians entering the EU to sign a document they condemn. Russian special operations in Ukraine.
“The revision of the Schengen Code is a long legal process that does not guarantee the result.
The main visa powers are in the hands of the member states of the community, not Brussels, therefore, the initiation of visa restrictions to Russia by EU countries will most likely be at the level of additional agreements among themselves. your broadcast.
“They have the right to decide for themselves who they will issue a visa to”
EU countries they have the right They cited the press service of the European Commission to decide for themselves who will issue or stop issuing visas.
The EC noted that visa activities for citizens of the Russian Federation have not been completely stopped. In particular, humanitarian aid continues to be provided.
We are adding this today, starting August 18 in Estonia. introduce Visa restrictions for Russians. So, citizens of the Russian Federation who have received a Schengen visa in the republic since Thursday fail enter the country.
At this stage, the Estonian authorities promise the entry of Russians from other countries participating in the Schengen agreement, who have received a corresponding mark in their passport. Russian diplomats and their family members working in Estonia are still allowed to enter the country. At the same time, Tallinn does not exclude the issuance of visas to Russians for humanitarian reasons. DEA News”.
In all other cases, you can only obtain an entry permit from Estonia to visit a close relative with citizenship or a long-term residence permit.
“Not all people should be sanctioned”
Meanwhile, the UN opposed Tallinn’s policy, saying the Estonian government discriminated against Russian citizens. Also, the proposal to ban Schengen visas was not supported by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The German leader noted that it is difficult to imagine the end of issuing visas to citizens of the Russian Federation, and also emphasized that sanctions should not be imposed on all people. Prof.Travel.
About plans to significantly reduce the number of visas previously issued to Russians announced in Helsinki. Finnish authorities plan to accept no more than 100-200 applications per day instead of the 1,000 available.
Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto said that a special model has been developed to give priority to visa applicants due to family, work or education. The changes are expected to take effect in September.
Latvian President Egils Levits declarationHe said that the issuance of tourist visas to citizens of the Russian Federation should be “interrupted at the European level”. In his opinion, such a measure would be an additional sanction against Russia.
In particular, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis agreed with Riga’s stance. He believes that visas issued to Russians are needed. override. “The best option would be a pan-European decision to declare these visas invalid. Then everybody would stop publishing them,” Landsbergis concluded.