EU states push to ban tourist visas for Russian citizens over security concerns

At an EU ambassadors' gathering, nine member states—including Bulgaria, Romania, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Lithuania—pressed for a prohibition on issuing tourist visas to Russian citizens. The call comes after reports of an August drone attack plot against Germany that allegedly involved a Russian passport holder who entered the country using Italian tourist paperwork. Swedish Interior Minister Johan Forsell emphasized that the matter is not merely about half a million Russians traveling in Europe, but also a national security threat.

France and Italy, which issue the most Russian visas, led a bloc of countries that this summer blocked attempts to limit entry of Russian military personnel. Forsell said the recent incidents demand swift action and hopes EU members will adopt a highly restrictive stance toward Russian tourists. The European Commission is expected to propose targeted restrictive measures for visas to address security risks from hostile non-EU actions.