European Union | Limiting Russian visas divides EU countries, foreign ministers meet today – live broadcast underway

Policy|European Union

Russians limiting tourist visas divides EU countries, but they may reach an agreement on freezing the visa facilitation agreement between the countries, reports news agency Reuters.

EU foreign ministers will meet on Tuesday and Wednesday in their informal meeting in Prague. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss limiting Russian tourist visas.

HS will broadcast live from around 4:30 p.m., when the foreign ministers are expected to arrive at the meeting.

The purpose of the Visa Facilitation Agreement has been to facilitate the acquisition of short-term visas and thus promote interaction between citizens of EU countries and Russians.

Finland supports the suspension of the agreement, the government decided earlier in August. If the agreement were to be suspended, for example, the visa fees for tourist visas would increase from 35 euros to 80 euros. Processing times could also be extended.

Finland has decided by itself restricts the reception of Russian tourist visa applications. From Thursday, they will be accepted in Russia only one day a week and only in four cities

of the scope of the EUthe visa ban for all Russians will hardly be achieved at the meeting of foreign ministers, said the head of the EU’s foreign policy Josep Borrell already on Monday.

Germany and France in particular oppose a complete ban on tourist visas, reports Reuters. According to the news agency, the countries have drawn up a joint position on the subject. Stricter visa restrictions have been pushed by the northern and eastern member states of the EU.

According to Germany and France, the tourist visa ban would backfire and feed Russia’s war narrative. According to the countries, the ban could cause “unintentionally the phenomenon of gathering around the flag and/or alienate future generations”.

The Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov commented on the EU countries’ plans on Tuesday. He said the hopes to suspend tourist visas are the latest example of the West’s anti-Russian agenda.

“These are very serious decisions that may be taken against our citizens. And, of course, one cannot fail to respond to such decisions,” Peskov said.

“We do it in a way that best serves our interests and protects the interests of our citizens.”

In addition to visa issues, the meeting of EU foreign ministers is supposed to discuss Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine and relations between the European Union and Africa. The foreign ministers of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia will also come to the meeting to meet.

Finland is represented at the meeting by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto (green).

Correction 30.8. 4:25 p.m.: Contrary to what was previously claimed in the story, the informal meeting of foreign ministers will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday, not Wednesday and Thursday.