Stop visas for Russian citizens in the European Union
“Total suspension. Until now it was partially suspended for special collectives, groups of people – officials, entrepreneurs – and now it is completely suspended. It means that it will significantly reduce the number of new visas issued by EU member states. The process will be more difficult,” it will be longer. And as a result, the number of new visas will be significantly reduced. This is a common approach that will prevent a potential “visa purchase” by Russians, going here and there, looking for the best deal “, explained the head of European diplomacy.
The suspension will allow visas to be granted on an individual basis following a thorough assessment of each individual case, and in particular for specific groups of people. “We do not want to detach ourselves from those Russians who are against the war in Ukraine. We do not want to isolate ourselves from Russian civil society”, he specified Borrell.
However, the suspension is not the only measure taken. The agreement also provides that passports issued by the Russian authorities in the occupied territories of Ukraine will not be recognized and that the European Commission will present guidelines on how to intervene on visas already issued, which are estimated at 12 million.
As for the neighboring countries, the Twenty-seven recognized that “they can take measures at national level to limit entry into the European Union through their borders, always in compliance with the Schengen code of the European Union”.
Moscow: “With the visa stop, the EU will shoot itself in the foot”
The decision of the European Union to suspend the facilitated visa regime with Russia will not remain without consequences, in response Moscow can take both symmetrical and asymmetrical measures, which Brussels does not expect. The warning came from the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Aleksandr Grushko, according to which if the EU goes ahead with the suspension of the visa facilitation agreement it will “shoot in the foot” once again.
“The violation, avoidance or withdrawal of the EU from the visa facilitation agreement with Russia will not remain without consequences. We will decide ourselves whether the measures will be symmetrical, asymmetrical or other that the EU does not expect. If Brussels decides to shoot itself in the foot again it is its choice “, said Grushko quoted by Ria Novosti.
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