LAST MINUTE! VISAS BANNED for Russian nationals for
Indice
The visa facilitation agreement between the EU and Russia, in force since 2007, was already partially suspended since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine for certain groups of people, such as politicians, a measure that adds to the veto on entry to EU territory that European governments have decreed for hundreds of Vladimir Putin’s allies, businessmen and Russian military through successive rounds of sanctions. “We agree that we must go further,” said the head of European diplomacy. “It cannot be business as usual with Russia, there can be no business as usual with Russia.”
EU foreign ministers pose with EU High Representative for Foreign Policy Josep Borrell and Czech diplomacy chief Jan Lipavsky during the informal meeting in Prague today.
The main reason put forward by Borrell to justify the new restrictions is the increase in land border crossings to these countries by Russian citizens, who in some cases gain access to air routes to the EU that are not available in their country. This activity, on the rise since mid-July, “has become a security risk for the border states”, alleged Borrell, who commented with disgust that “many Russians” have been seen traveling for pleasure or shopping “as if there were no war in Ukraine”.
Ukrainians flee war and seek refuge in Poland
European Union foreign ministers agreed Wednesday to temporarily suspend a visa facilitation agreement benefiting Russia, but did not move toward a total visa ban or restriction.European diplomacy chief Josep Borrell said ministers meeting in Prague agreed that relations with Russia could not continue “business as usual” and that the agreement should be “fully suspended.”
Before the meeting, Poland and the three Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania had said they would consider vetoing Russian travelers if the EU as a whole did not. “Another ridiculous decision “The Kremlin on Thursday denounced the decision by European Union foreign ministers to suspend the 2007 visa facilitation agreement and warned of potential retaliatory measures.
Situation of ukrainians at polish border gets out of control
European Union foreign ministers on Wednesday reached a minimum agreement on the controversial issue of visas for Russian citizens (in particular tourists). There will be no total border closure as demanded by Poland, Finland and the Baltic countries in retaliation for the invasion of Ukraine. The compromise solution is to suspend the 2007 EU-Russia Visa Facilitation Agreement.
In addition, the foreign ministers have agreed to examine each application individually and in depth. “We do not want to disconnect ourselves from the Russians who are against the war in Ukraine, from the civil society in Russia,” Borrell stressed.
In any case, the head of EU diplomacy has admitted that the situation in the countries bordering Russia (Finland and the Baltics), is “difficult”. Therefore, they will be allowed to take measures at the national level to restrict entry into the EU through their borders, provided that they comply with the Schengen code.
In Lithuania, fears are growing that it could become the next
Not everyone agrees. Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz says that while it is important to sanction members of President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle, Europeans must “also understand that there are many people fleeing Russia because they do not agree with the Russian regime.”
European leaders are unlikely to reach full agreement on this issue. Although the EU has largely held together since the start of the war and has united to impose serious economic sanctions on Russia, there is a geographic reality that complicates any consensus among 27 countries with very different economic and political priorities.
The western and southern EU countries, which are somewhat shielded from Kremlin aggression because of the great distance, are quick to remind the hawks that Russia is a very large part of the wider region of Europe.
Therefore, it is not only extremely difficult, but probably not particularly productive, to simply ignore Russia. Once the war is over, European economies will want to re-establish ties with Russia. This is not only beneficial to those countries, but could also prove valuable in a post-conflict propaganda war to convince average Russians of the benefits of European values.