As reported by the online media Suspilne.
The European Commission has announced that they are preparing a new strategy for issuing visas to Russian citizens. This is all because of the Russian drone attack on Poland on September 10. This was stated at a briefing by European Commission spokesperson Markus Lammert.
According to Lammert, restrictions on issuing visas to Russians are one of the European Commission’s unprecedented measures in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
In 2022, we already suspended the visa facilitation agreement with Russia. In addition, since 2022 we have also issued various clear recommendations to help member states refrain from granting priority visas to Russians and to underscore the importance of security and border control
The European Commission monitors the implementation of its recommendations on issuing visas to Russians by EU member states. Justice Ministers of EU member states were instructed to implement these recommendations in March 2025, the spokesperson said.
New visa strategy and next steps
Regarding the strategy we will present at the end of this year. The new visa strategy is indeed being prepared, and for further actions, you simply need to follow the updates.
Regarding the strategy we will present at the end of this year. The new visa strategy is indeed being prepared, and for further actions, you simply need to follow the updates
There is also information on visa issuance volumes: since 2023 EU countries issue around 500,000 visas annually to Russians, while in 2019 more than 4 million visas were issued.
In the context of restrictions, the EU is considering including these steps in the 19th package of sanctions against Russia, which is being discussed among member states.
Useful reading:
- The EU has not yet used its anti-circumvention sanctions tool against China and others, reserving it for appropriate timing amid ongoing sanction package developments.
- Lithuania cancels temporary residence permit for a Russian citizen due to frequent trips to Russia without valid reasons, with more cases under review amid new travel restrictions.
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemns Russian drone incursions into Polish airspace, emphasizing the need for facts and allied consultations amid rising regional tensions.
