Europe’s Struggle to Restrict Visas for Russians: Is a Complete Ban Possible?
Over the past few months, the issue of banning the issuance of tourist visas to Russian citizens has become one of the most heated topics in political debates within the European Union.
Despite calls for strict restrictions, many EU member states oppose a complete ban on issuing visas, emphasizing the complexity and potential negative consequences of such a step.
According to Ricard Yozvyak, editor of Radio Free Europe, it is currently unlikely that a full ban on Russian tourists will be implemented, as most member states are resisting this decision.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that implementing such restrictions requires a qualified majority in the EU, which currently seems nearly impossible to achieve.
Earlier reports indicated that the European Union is preparing to tighten visa restrictions, guided by long-standing pressure from neighboring countries bordering Russia to the east, with new recommendations expected to be announced by the end of this year.
There are also talks of making visa procedures more difficult not only for Russia but also for other countries considered hostile or aligned with the Russian regime.
Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in September 2022, the EU has already revoked an agreement on simplified visa procedures with Russia, making the process more expensive and complicated for Russian applicants.
Ultimately, the decision on whether to impose a total ban or not is taken by individual member states, as the European Commission does not have the authority to impose a universal ban.
Moreover, some civil society representatives in Russia are urging the EU to refrain from using tourist visas as a weapon against Moscow, warning of possible adverse consequences of such policies, including voices like that of Yulia Navalnaya, who expressed concern about the potential implementation of restrictions within future sanctions packages.