Brussels –No more multiple-entry visas into the EU: From now on, Russian nationals will need to apply for a new visa each time they plan to travel to the EU, including for short stays and on each trip. This is the latest anti-Russian measure adopted by the European Commission, in the name of security. With this restriction in the visa regime, the EU executive aims to conduct a close and frequent scrutiny of applicants to mitigate any potential security risks.
Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Security and Democracy, presents the new visa decisions as a security measure, citing risks of “sabotage” and “disinformation.” It is therefore a matter of preventing potential spies or individuals with ill intentions from entering. Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, used different tones: “Traveling to and freely moving within the EU is a privilege, not a given.”
The restrictions will not be triggered automatically for everyone. The European Commission provides exceptions for limited and justified cases, such as independent journalists and human rights defenders, ensuring uniform application in all member states and preventing circumvention.
The restrictive measure follows those already taken, with 19 sanction packages against Russia, as well as the complete suspension of the visa facilitation agreement between the EU and the Russian Federation. “In two years, with our actions, we have produced an impressive reduction in the number of visas granted, from four million to 400,000,” recalls Markus Lammert, spokesman for the Commission for Home Affairs.
English version by the Translation Service of Withub
