The agreement between the EU and Russia to facilitate the issuing of visas has been completely suspended. What does that mean exactly?
As of Monday, Russian citizens will no longer benefit from the simplified issuing of visas for trips to the Schengen countries. On Friday, the Council of EU States accepted the European Commission’s proposal to completely suspend the agreement concluded between the EU and Russia to facilitate the issuing of visas.
According to earlier information from EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, the move will ensure that the number of new visas for Russians will drop significantly. In particular, people in need of protection should still be able to get a visa. The Schengen area includes 22 EU countries and four other European countries, including Austria.
What does it mean exactly?
Specifically, the decision will increase the application fee for a visa from 35 to 80 euros. In addition, more documents are required, processing times are increasing and the issuance of multiple-entry visas is being restricted. In order to prevent disadvantages for journalists, dissidents and representatives of civil society, for example, the EU Commission has already announced additional guidelines.
The decision will apply from next Monday, September 12, as announced by the Council Presidency. The EU states had already agreed in principle on this step at the end of August.
Baltic States and Poland go further
The Baltic States and Poland have announced more far-reaching measures. They want to refuse entry to all Russian citizens with a Schengen visa for tourist stays, business trips, sporting and cultural events from September 19 – regardless of which member country issued the visa. Shortly after the beginning of the Russian war against Ukraine, the states largely stopped issuing visas and residence permits to Russians.
The visa agreement between the EU and Russia has been in effect since 2007. Shortly after the start of the war on February 24, the simplifications for business people, government officials and diplomats were already suspended.
((APA/dpa))