The European Union has begun work on the practical implementation of visa restrictions on Russian participants in hostilities against Ukraine, including former combatants. A senior EU diplomat said this, DW reports.
According to the diplomat, the legal basis for these restrictions was laid in the 21st package of sanctions against Russia; however, during negotiations EU countries concluded that the mechanism for enforcing the ban needed further work.
"A fair amount of work still had to be done to understand how this ban could be implemented in practice. That work has already begun," the diplomat said.
According to the publication, the European Commission is to prepare recommendations on how these restrictions should be applied. Restrictions for combatants are being considered within the EU sanctions regime, where decisions are taken unanimously.
At the same time, the EU is discussing broader restrictions on issuing tourist and short-stay visas to Russian citizens. This is a separate initiative, not directly linked to the sanctions mechanism for combatants. In particular, it concerns changes to legislation that would make it possible to restrict visa issuance for entire categories of applicants, for example citizens of a particular country or people making non-essential trips. Under the current EU Visa Code, each application must generally be considered individually.
It is expected that the European Commission will present a proposal to revise the Visa Code in early 2027. The proposal must be approved by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU, with decisions in the Council taken by a qualified majority.
It is envisaged that once such a legal basis is created, the EU will be able to adopt separate decisions on restrictions for specific categories of applicants, including Russian citizens.
According to the senior EU diplomat, the issue of visa restrictions for Russians is taking an increasingly prominent place on the European agenda and may be raised on 1 October at a meeting of EU interior ministers.
Additional restrictions on the movement of Russian diplomats within the Schengen area are also being discussed. From October 2025, a Russian diplomat travelling from the country of their accreditation to another EU country must notify the destination country in advance. It may also require prior authorisation to enter if the diplomat is using a visa or residence permit issued by another EU member state. The diplomat did not specify what additional measures are currently being proposed.
- Germany is urging EU countries to significantly reduce the issuance of tourist visas to Russian citizens. Berlin believes that the current scale of visa issuance runs counter to the EU’s sanctions policy and creates additional security risks.