EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Wednesday that EU member states had reached a political agreement to suspend the EU-Russia visa facilitation agreement.
"We agreed politically, this is not a legal text but it is a political agreement, we agreed that something has to be done and therefore let me try to summarize in concrete terms what we politically agreed on. Firstly the full suspension of the EU Russia visa facilitation agreement," Borrell told a press conference.
According to Borrell, suspending the EU-Russia visa facilitation agreement will result in a large drop in visas being issued to Russians and will help to avoid visa restrictions being circumvented.
"This will significantly reduce the number of new visas issued by European states. Obtaining visas will become more difficult and time-consuming," he said.
The EU foreign policy chief added that EU foreign ministers had prepared recommendations for member states on what to do about visas which had already been issued to Russians.
"It has been a long and constructive debate, some concerns has been raised about, not the new visas, not the flow of new visas being granted but … about the millions of existing visas and there was a common understanding that this also has to be addressed and this situation needs also a common approach, that's why we agreed to invite the Commission to look into this complex situation and provide guidelines," Borrell said.
The EU top diplomat added that Russians will be eligible to apply for some categories of visas.
"This will allow for visas to be granted on individual basis on a thorough statement on each individual case and especially for specific groups of people," Borrell said.
EU foreign ministers have been meeting in the Czech capital since August 30 to agree on more sanctions against Russia. Finland, the Czech Republic, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia have called for limiting travel from Russia to the bare minimum, while western EU nations have suggested a more tailored approach.
Earlier in August, the European Commission said that the member countries couldn’t completely stop issuing Schengen visas to Russian citizens, adding that member states could decide for themselves on the issuance of short-term Schengen visas and consider each application on an individual basis.
On February 24, Russia began a military operation in Ukraine, responding to calls for help from the republics of Donetsk and Lugansk. In response, the West and its allies have rolled out a comprehensive sanctions campaign against Moscow, which includes, among other things, mass expulsion of Russian diplomats. Moscow on the basis of reciprocity has expelled dozens of employees of various diplomatic missions.
In addition, a number of EU countries have reduced issuance of tourist visas to Russians, while also calling for a total ban on the issuance of Schengen visas to the country's citizens as part of the next sanctions package. Moscow has repeatedly said that it considers the proposal a manifestation of chauvinism and that such a decision will invite retaliatory measures.
In addition, a number of EU countries have reduced issuance of tourist visas to Russians, while also calling for a total ban on the issuance of Schengen visas to the country's citizens as part of the next sanctions package. Moscow has repeatedly said that it considers the proposal a manifestation of chauvinism and that such a decision will invite retaliatory measures.