The European Commission has proposed a complete suspension of the EU’s visa facilitation agreement with Russia, the Commission said. The suspension is a response to the increased risk and threats to the security interests of the Union and the national security of the member states as a result of Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine.
A country like Russia waging an aggressive war should not qualify for visa facilitation as long as it conducts a destructive foreign policy and military aggression against Ukraine, demonstrating a complete disregard for the rules-based international order, it was announced.
This means that Russian citizens will no longer have privileged access to the EU and will face a longer, more expensive and more difficult visa application process. Member States will have considerable flexibility in dealing with short-stay visa applications from Russian citizens.
The EU will remain open to certain categories of Russian visa applicants who travel for primary purposes, including in particular family members of EU citizens, journalists, dissidents and representatives of civil society, it also said.
The Commission is also presenting today a proposal on the non-recognition of Russian passports issued in the occupied areas of Ukraine, in particular Kherson and Zaporizhia.
These proposals follow the political agreement reached by foreign ministers at their informal meeting on August 31 on a joint and coordinated procedure for issuing visas for Russian citizens.
Suspension of the visa facilitation agreement means:
– a higher visa fee – will increase from EUR 35 to EUR 80 for all applicants.
– longer processing times: The standard period for consulates to decide on visa applications will be extended from 10 to 15 days (this period may be extended to a maximum of 45 days).
– stricter rules on multiple-entry visas: Applicants will no longer have easy access to visas valid for multiple entries to the Schengen area.
– a longer list of supporting documents (applicants will no longer benefit from the simplified list in the visa facilitation agreement).
Now the Council is to examine and adopt the proposal to suspend the visa facilitation agreement. Once adopted, the suspension will take effect on the second day following its publication in the EU’s Official Journal. Russia will be notified of the suspension decision no later than 48 hours before it enters into force.
The measures will enter into force on the day following their publication in the Official Journal of the EU.
The EU-Russia visa facilitation entered into force in June 2007. They facilitate the issuance of visas to citizens of the Union and the Russian Federation for an intended stay of no more than 90 days in any 180-day period.
As of September 1, 2022, approx. 963,000 Russians had valid visas to the Schengen area.
Source: EC and ISBnews
