11 EU Countries Demanded To Block Issuance Of Schengen Visas To Russians
4- 1,598
Politico revealed the details.
Eleven European countries have sent a letter to the European Commission demanding tougher conditions for Russian tourists entering the Schengen zone. In the run-up to the summer season, ministers from the Baltic States, Denmark, the Netherlands, Poland, Finland, the Czech Republic, Sweden, as well as non-EU but Schengen members Iceland and Norway said that Russian tourists should not be allowed to use European resorts while their country continues its war against Ukraine.
The implementation of the EU's recommendations on strict assessment of Russian applicants is patchy, allowing Russians to engage in "visa shopping" by obtaining visas in countries with a more loyal approach and moving from one country to another, according to Politico, which read the letter. According to Polish publication RMF FM, which obtained the letter from Poland's foreign and interior ministers, the countries are pushing for tough legislative measures that would immediately block entry of citizens from countries that pose a geopolitical threat.
The ministers are proposing new restrictions and mandatory measures to the Visa Code so that the EU can "respond more effectively to hostile actions by third countries." The restriction on multiple-entry visas, they argue, should apply to all Russian citizens, regardless of where they live. The letter also calls for the immediate development of measures within the framework of an Estonian initiative to identify former and current participants in hostilities and prevent them from entering the Schengen zone.
"The growing number of Russian tourists spending their vacations on European beaches and resorts while missiles and drones continue to strike civilians and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine is deeply disturbing," the ministers wrote. They expressed outrage that Russians are being issued more and more tourist visas, and a significant part of them are multiple-entry visas.
According to the Schengen Barometer, Russians received 623,451 tourist visas in 2025 (France, Italy and Spain issued the most), while in 2024 - 565,719.
The letter says: "This represents a blatant contradiction to the European Commission's recommendations for a strict approach to Russian applicants who travel to [Schengen] countries without a vital need, and a serious flaw in our collective policy towards the aggressor state. We find this extremely troubling."
The Baltic states and Poland have virtually stopped issuing tourist visas to Russians. The states bordering Russia bear all the costs and risks, while other countries continue to profit from Russian tourists, the letter points out.
A diplomat familiar with the visa discussion told Politico that the new initiative is because former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is no longer in the way of making tougher decisions toward Russia.
The countries that signed the letter will raise the issue on the sidelines of the Justice and Home Affairs meeting to assess whether there is enough support to move forward with it If so, it could be considered on an expedited basis.
But not everyone agrees with that position. "When Russians get to Europe, they understand what Europe is. It's not just about big yachts, spending money, etc.," said a diplomat from a country that did not sign the letter. - We need to be a little more careful." Another cautioned against getting too caught up in statistics, noting that some countries have more diplomatic and administrative capacity to process applications rather than more lenient visa rules.
Bank's name: Bank Millennium S.A.
Address: ul. Stanislawa Zaryna, 2A, 02-593, Warszawa
IBAN: PL97116022020000000216711123
SWIFT: BIGBPLPW
Name of the account holder: Fundacja “KARTA ‘97”
Purpose/title of payment: Donation for statuary aims
You can contact us by the e-mail charter97@gmail.com
