EU tightens travel rules for Russians, but no visa ban

PRAGUE (AP) — European Union countries agreed Wednesday to make it harder for Russian citizens to enter the 27 countries, but failed to agree on a direct tourist ban in response to Russia’s war on Ukraine.

At talks in the Czech Republic, EU foreign ministers sought to show solidarity and punish President Vladimir Putin for launching the war six months ago. Still, Russian citizens, some of whom may have opposed the invasion, could not reconcile differences over whether they should pay a price.

The plan is now to make it more time-consuming and costly for Russian citizens to obtain short-term visas to enter Europe’s passport-free travel zone — a 26-nation area with most EU members and Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway. And Switzerland is known as the Schengen area.

The move follows the suspension of the 2007 agreement between Russia and Europe to ease travel. The EU previously tightened visa restrictions on Russian officials and business people in May.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, who chaired the meeting in the Czech capital of Prague, said the number of Russians had been increasing since mid-July, some of them “to trade as if there was no war in Ukraine”.

Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Havisto arrives for a meeting of EU foreign ministers at the Prague Congress Center in Prague, Czech Republic, Wednesday, August 31, 2022. (AP Photo/Peter David Josek)

Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Pete David Josek

Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod addresses EU foreign ministers at the Prague Congress Center in Prague, Czech Republic, Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022. (AP Photo/Peter David Josek)

Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Pete David Josek

Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib speaks to the media during the EU Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Prague, Czech Republic, Wednesday, August 31, 2022.

Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Pete David Josek

Swedish Foreign Minister Anne Linde, center, talks with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, second left, during a group photo of EU foreign ministers at the Prague Congress Center in Prague, Czech Republic, Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022. Others, left, of Romania They are Foreign Minister Bogdan Aureescu, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias, Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Havisto and Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio. (AP Photo/Peter David Josek)

Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Pete David Josek

German Foreign Minister Annalena Berbock arrives for a meeting of EU foreign and defense ministers at the Prague Congress Center in Prague, Czech Republic, Wednesday, August 31, 2022. (AP Photo/Peter David Josek)

Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Pete David Josek

German Foreign Minister Annalena Berbock speaks to the media as she arrives for a meeting of EU foreign and defense ministers at the Prague Congress Center on Wednesday, August 31, 2022 in Prague, Czech Republic. (AP Photo/Peter David Josek)

Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Pete David Josek

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This has become a security threat to European countries that are at war with Russia, he said.

Borrell said he believed further delays would result in fewer visas being issued.

Students, journalists and those who fear for their safety in Russia can still get a visa. The move will have no immediate effect on the estimated 12 million visas for Russian citizens, but EU officials will consider what can be done to block them.

A broad ban was imposed on Russian tourists from Poland and the Baltic states – Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – as well as Denmark. The foreign ministers of Estonia and Latvia have said they may push ahead with further visa restrictions, citing national security concerns.

Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Rainsalu told reporters that we must immediately raise the price for Putin’s regime. “The loss of time will be paid for with the blood of Ukrainians.”

Uniform rules are expected to apply in the 26 countries that make up the European passport free travel zone, but Reinsalu said it is “our national competence to decide on entry into our country based on the principle of national security”.

“I believe this is a security issue,” said Latvian Foreign Minister Edgar Rinkevics. “It has nothing to do with collective punishment. I think it is sending a clear message to Russian citizens that Ukrainians are dying.

Over the years, many countries have reintroduced border controls for security reasons in the Schengen area, where Europeans and visitors can travel freely without ID checks.

The foreign minister of Finland, which shares the European Union’s longest border with Russia, has underlined that his country will reduce the number of visas issued to Russian citizens by 10% from Thursday. You can apply for a travel pass only in four Russian cities.

“It is important that we show that normal tourism should not continue as business as usual while Ukrainians are suffering,” said Foreign Minister Peka Havisto. “Finland has decided to limit the number of tourist visas. We hope that the entire EU will make similar decisions.

Ahead of Wednesday’s talks, Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod expressed hope for a common EU position, noting that most Ukrainian men do not have the luxury of choosing to leave their war-torn country.

“There have to be consequences on all sides,” Kofod said. “We want to limit visas for Russian tourists, send a clear signal to Putin, to Russia, that (what he is doing in Ukraine) is absolutely unacceptable.”

But European countries far from Russia’s and Ukraine’s borders are reluctant to go too far.

Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib said it was important to avoid creating a patchwork system “in which Russians can trade visas between EU countries”.

“Targeting the right people is very important. “This is about those who support the unjust war against Ukraine and try to escape the sanctions we have imposed,” she said.

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