European Commission Prepares Proposals to Freeze Visa Facilitation Agreement With Russia

After an informal meeting in Prague on August 31, EU member states had reached a political agreement to suspend the EU-Russia visa facilitation deal and agreed to prepare recommendations on what to do with the existing visas already issued to Russians.

The decision to suspend the EU visa facilitation deal with Russia may come into effect from September 12, according to the EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson.

Russian applicants will face a lengthier process for EU visa applications, restrictions to multiple visa entries, according to the European Commission.

"This suspension means Russian citizens will no longer enjoy privilege access to EU for example for tourism and leisure purposes they will face a lengthier, more expensive — more than double the price — and more difficult application process as well as more restrictions for multiple entry visas," the commissioner clarified.

🔴LIVE: Proposal to fully suspend the EU's Visa Facilitation Agreement with Russia, ending privileged access to the EU for Russian citizens.

Watch the press conference by Commissioner @YlvaJohansson https://t.co/cxqCw6mezY

— European Commission 🇪🇺 (@EU_Commission) September 6, 2022

It was added that EU member states should be allowed to refuse a visa application for certain categories of Russian applicants that could be deemed a potential threat to public policy, to internal security, or international relations of a member state.

The EU member states, after an informal meeting in Prague on August 31, had struck a political agreement to suspend the EU-Russia visa facilitation deal. They had also agreed to prepare recommendations on what to do with the visas already issued to Russians.

"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 at the time.

Back in 2007, travel between Russia and the European Union was rendered much easier when the agreement came into force, reducing visa fees, simplifying rules for obtaining multivisas, reducing the list of necessary documents and abolishing visas for diplomats.

However, Finland, the Czech Republic, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia have been calling for limiting travel from Russia to the bare minimum over Moscow's ongoing special military operation in Ukraine. Western EU nations suggested a more tailored approach as part of the sanctions regime targeting Moscow. Slamming the approach as a manifestation of chauvinism, Russia has warned that such a decision will invite retaliatory measures.

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin said he would instruct the Foreign Ministry to work out the procedure for abolition of visas for foreign tourists, and not based on reciprocity.

"I would not cling to reciprocity in this case. I know the general principle of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is that of reciprocity. However, when it comes to ensuring our interests, we need to use principles that work best to our advantage ... We must be more flexible," Putin stated.