While Baltics states are united over Schengen Visa Ban for Russian Citizens, not all EU countries are ready to back this decision.
On August 5 Latvia stopped accepting visa application from citizens of Russia for an indefinite time period with exception to those who visit Latvia to attend a close relative’s funeral.
On Tuesday, August 16, Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš said at the press conference that the ruling coalition of government of Latvia has agreed to change the principles for the renewal of temporary residence permits (TUAs) issued to Russian citizens in Latvia. It was decided that from now on they will not be renewed, except in rare cases.
earlier this week, President of Latvia Egils Levits also suggested that residence permit should be revoked for supporters of Russia.
«Is it politically and morally justifiable: while the Russian army kills and burns in Ukraine, Russian tourists relax peacefully in Europe?» the president of Latvia asked rhetorically.
Discussion on Russian tourists and visa ban for Russian citizens in Europe has been started not only in Latvia, but also in other European countries, especially in Estonia, Finland, which directly borders with Russia, as well as in the Czech Republic, which is currently the country holding the presidency of the European Union.
Lithuania was among those countries who were first to stop issuing visas to Russian citizens. On August 6 in a written statement to public broadcaster LRT Lithuanina Foreign Ministry said that «Following the tightening of the visa regime, the acceptance of visa applications of citizens of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus […] has been suspended, except in cases when the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry mediates in the issuance of the visas.»
A few days later Estonian government, on August 11, announced that starting from August 18 Estonia will ban Russians with Estonian–issued Schengen visas from entering the country. At the government’s weekly press conference, Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Reinsalu announced that this sanction means visas will remain valid, but the visa holders will be sanctioned when entering Estonia, they will not be allowed to enter Estonia, informed broadcaster ERR.
As mentioned above, beside Baltic states Czech Republic and Finland have also suspended visa issuance for citizens of Russia.
On August 12, according to The Brussels Times, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic Jan Lipavský has spoken out in favour of an EU–wide coordinated approach. He pointed out that the Czech Republic was the first country within the union to halt issuing visas for Russian citizens, and Lipavský said: «We are trying to explain to our partners that the approach is justified and effective.»
But not all EU countries are ready to support the call for the visa ban for Russians citizens.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that Berlin would not follow European countries that have called for an EU–wide move to halt issuing tourist visas to Russian citizens.
German chancellor beckoned to remember the many refugees who have fled Russia do not support Russian regime and reminded that this not a war with Russian people. He considers that this is not a black or white question and such decision should not make it more complicated for Russia’s regime opponents to leave country, Germany won’t back a call to end Russian tourist visas, quotes abc news.
Prime Minister of Finland Sanna Marin, however, believes that in future this visa–related topic will be raised at European Council meetings even more strongly.
Sanna Miren considers that issuing tourist visas to Russians should be restricted following the country’s full–scale invasion of Ukraine.
«It’s not right that while Russia is waging an aggressive, brutal war of aggression in Europe, Russians can live a normal life, travel around Europe, be tourists,» she said to state broadcaster Yle.
Finland’s minister for foreign affairs Pekka Haavisto considers that likely till autumns there won’t be an EU–wide decision on the visa ban for Russian citizens, but Finland is still able to limit tourist visas for Russians without violating Schengen Area rules, writes broadcaster Yle.
The Finnish government decided on Tuesday, August 16, significantly reduce the number of tourist visas granted to Russian citizens in light of the ongoing war in Ukraine. Finland also supports ending the EU visa facilitation agreement with Russia. The changes in visa issuance will enter into force in September.
Nevertheless, Keit Kasemets, a political scientist, considers that it will be rather difficult for Europe to individually identify every relative, child and lover of Russian politicians, top officials and military leaders to put on black lists. Because of this, a broader ban on entry is necessary, Estonian ERR reports.
Data from the EU’s border agency Frontex suggests that 856,000 Russian citizens have entered the EU by crossing its land border since the war in Ukraine started.
Most have crossed the border between Russia and the EU. But there are also people who come via Belarus, Turkey, Serbia.
In the ERR article it is said that among those who come to the EU are people with a permanent residence permit and those with double citizenship, while the majority are traveling to Europe with long–term and short–term visas. They travel by cars, coaches or trains to Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and from there grab flights to European resorts.
Keit Kasemets thinks that if to look at EU capacity, an entry ban for Russian citizens would not be an easy one, while it is by no means impossible either. The principles of the Schengen area would have to be observed.
Political scientist points out that if Estonia can stop issuing visas and deny entry to visa holders from Russia, the Schengen Area’s then external border must grant entry to these citizens if for example visa is granted by Germany.
Even though there can be temporarily closer of borders to third country citizens and even EU citizens, these decisions are still up to member states as opposed to the EU.