The European Union plans to suspend its visa agreement with Russia to show Russian tourists that the war in Ukraine is “unacceptable”.
The information was released by the Financial Times this Sunday (28), citing official sources, claiming that the measure could be adopted as early as next week.
According to the publication, the idea aims to limit the number of travel permits granted after some Eastern European members threatened to unilaterally close their borders to the Russians.
The agreement has been in effect since 2007, and if some of it is suspended, it will affect the preferential treatment that Russians receive when applying for EU visas. This way, the process will become longer and more expensive, in addition to the need to submit more documents.
Also, according to the Financial Times, the decision should be made after some countries call for joint action to stop the flow of Russians to Europe on tourist visas.
The Czech Republic and Poland blocked the issuance of visas shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine. But other countries continued to guarantee travel documents and allowed Russians with visas to move freely in countries that are part of the Schengen Area.
The first step will be taken at the two-day Prague meeting, which will begin next Tuesday (30). “It is not appropriate for Russian tourists to travel through our cities. We must send a signal to the Russian population that this war is not complete, it is not acceptable,” a European official told the Financial Times.
source: Noticias
