It is a new type of sanction that the European Union (EU) plans to take against Moscow for the war in Ukraine. Indeed, the European Union will discuss a visa ban for all Russians at the end of August, Czech diplomat Jan Lipavsky, whose country chairs the EU Council, said on Friday.
“A total ban on Russian visas by all EU member states could be another very effective sanction against Russia,” argued Jan Lipavsky. The minister will sound out his counterparts during an informal meeting at the end of August in Prague.
A divisive measure within the EU
But this measure, demanded by the Ukrainian authorities, continues to divide the EU. The Czech minister, therefore, still has to convince the head of European diplomacy, the Spaniard Josep Borrell, who chairs the Councils of Foreign Affairs and Defense Ministers. Sanctions proposals are one of his prerogatives.
“Currently we cannot deny entry to people with a visa from another country in the Schengen area. We are looking for options,” Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas recently stressed, supporting a blanket ban.
Finland also advocates a European decision, as the country’s legislation does not allow a total ban on visas based on nationality. An important transit country for Russians, it wants to reduce tourist visas, Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto said in early August. However, the European sanctions must be adopted unanimously by the Twenty-seven.
The reluctant European Commission
But the Commission does not hide its reservations about a measure that would penalize all Russian citizens and insists on the need to protect dissidents, journalists and families. “Member States have a wide margin to issue short-stay visas and examine applications on a case-by-case basis based on their merits,” one of their spokespersons recalled.
“The Russians overwhelmingly support the war, they applaud the missile attacks on Ukrainian cities and the killing of Ukrainians. So let Russian tourists enjoy Russia,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba pleaded in a post. On twitter.
The Czech Republic stopped issuing visas to Russians on February 25, the day after Russia invaded Ukraine. The EU has adopted six sets of sanctions against Moscow, including suspending its purchases of coal and oil.
It has also added more than a thousand Russians, including President Vladimir Putin and many oligarchs, to its blacklist of being banned from entering and has restricted the issuance of short-term visas for officials linked to the regime since the end of February. .
Source: BFM TV
