The Member States of the European Union have suspended an agreement which has made it easier for Russians to obtain visas. The move was confirmed on Wednesday afternoon after the European Union foreign ministers convened in Prague, Czech Republic.
The European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, made the announcement about the agreement being suspended, following the meeting.
Further stating, he said, “The EU Foreign Affairs Chief added, in a message published on Twitter, that there had been “a substantial spike of border crossings from Russia into neighbouring states.”
“This is a major compromise of security,” Borrell added. “We, therefore, agree today with EU Foreign Ministers on full suspension of the EU-Russia visa facilitation agreement.”
The total suspension will prove really effective in cutting down the number of visas granted by EU member States to the citizens of Russia.
It will now take longer & be much more difficult to obtain a visa, Borrell noted.
Borrell stated, “This has become a security threat for these neighbouring states. What’s more surprising is that we have seen many Russians travelling for leisure and shopping as if no war was raging in Ukraine.”
The move was specifically welcomed by member states that border Russia. “We need to immediately ramp up the price to Putin’s regime,” as stated by Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu.
