EU countries suspend visa deal with Moscow. This does not go far enough for Eastern European countries, they are preparing general entry stops at national level.
For many Russians, the carefree journey across the border to vacation in the West will no longer be possible in the foreseeable future. On Wednesday, the EU foreign ministers decided to end the previous visa facilitation. An agreement signed with Moscow in 2007 is to be suspended. In particular, for tourists who want to vacation on the beaches or in the mountains of the EU countries, this will be associated with hurdles in the future. The issuing of visas will no longer be a purely formal act and will also incur more costs – probably 80 euros instead of the previous 35 euros. There are also more ways to refuse entry.
Although all EU governments support this measure, the line of the community remains mixed. Austria Germany and France want to continue allowing selective entry into the Schengen area. Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg (ÖVP) opposed a complete visa ban during consultations with his counterparts in Prague. The sanctions should be directed against President Vladimir Putin’s system, not against an entire people.