Fifty-six MEPs sent a letter, on 26 August, to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel and Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, asking them to support “the initiative of several Member States”, such as the Baltic States and Finland, to suspend the issuance of tourist visas to Russian citizens, the Renew Europe MEP, Salima Yenbou (France), reported on Twitter.
The MEPs, also from the EPP, ECR, ID, S&D and Greens/EFA, endorse a full visa suspension for Russians as long as Ukrainians suffer “ atrocities” at the hands of the Russian government, they write, calling on EU leaders to take up the issue.
EU foreign ministers will discuss the 2007 Visa Facilitation Agreement with Russia in Prague on Wednesday, which could be suspended entirely, according to the Financial Times. However, according to one source, it remains to be seen “what will come out of the discussions”, as not all Member States are on the same line.
A suspension of facilitation would in any case not mean a ban on Russian citizens travelling to the EU, but the issuing of visas would again be more expensive and slower.
However, Member States may, at their level, refuse to grant visas to Russian citizens for security reasons or in view of the international situation, as the Baltic States or Finland have already announced, with possible exceptions for humanitarian visas.
In any case, the EU27 will have to succeed in having a coordinated approach to the issue, as a risk of disorder in the Schengen area cannot be ruled out with countries continuing to issue short-stay visas to Russian citizens.
Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, opposed a pure suspension of visa issuance, but said on 28 August that the EU could be “more selective”.
In February, the EU27 had suspended the visa facilitation agreement for people close to Vladimir Putin’s regime, government or Duma officials and business people. It is possible that this week’s discussion will focus on new categories of people. An amendment to the facilitation agreement would also require unanimity if it were to be part of a new wave of sanctions.
Link to the letter: https://aeur.eu/f/2v2 (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)