EU Ministers from 11 Countries Call for Tougher Schengen Visa Rules for Russians

Foreign ministers from Poland, Sweden, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway and Iceland sent a joint letter to the European Commission, addressed to High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas and Internal Market Commissioner Magnus Brunner. The letter urges the Commission to impose more restrictive and binding Schengen visa measures on Russian citizens amid the ongoing war in Ukraine and a surge in Russian tourists in Europe. While the 2022 visa‑facilitation agreement with Russia was suspended, the ministers say its uneven application across member states creates a “significant gap”. They note that in 2025 about 477,878 Schengen visas were issued to Russians for tourism, many of them multiple‑entry, which they argue contradicts the Commission’s recommendation for a tougher stance. Security concerns focus on the risk that former Russian soldiers could enter the Schengen area and the problem of “visa shopping” caused by divergent national policies. The ministers stress that coordinated, stricter visa rules are essential for the security and integrity of the Schengen zone.