The European Commission published, on Thursday 5 May, guidelines to help Member States and their consulates implement the partial suspension of the Agreement with the Russian Federation on the facilitation of the issuance of visas, adopted by the EU Council on 25 February (see EUROPE 12898/1).
The partial suspension is aimed at specific categories of persons close to the regime and applies to Russian citizens who are members of official delegations of the Russian Federation, members of national and regional governments and parliaments of the Russian Federation, the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation and the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, as well as to citizens of the Russian Federation who hold valid diplomatic passports and to businessmen and representatives of commercial organisations.
The suspension means that travel to the EU for these people is made more complex, with the pre-travel documentation requirements reinstated and the visa application fee returned to its standard level of €80 from €35.
However, the measure does not apply to ordinary citizens of Russia or to various categories of workers.
The communication also emphasises security checks. “Given the current security situation, it is important that consulates thoroughly verify whether applicants could be considered to be a threat to public policy, internal security or to the international relations of any of the Member States, in which case the visa should be refused”.
In case of any doubt, “consulates are advised to be vigilant, for instance by consulting national and Interpol databases and SIS (Schengen Information System). Furthermore, consulates should keep in mind that several Member States require the consultation of their central authorities during the examination of all applications lodged by citizens of the Russian Federation”.
Link to the communication: https://aeur.eu/f/1ie (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)