Overview
- An EU official told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty the European Commission is likely to adopt the tougher visa rules on Friday, with immediate effect once approved.
- Under the plan, Russian applicants would generally receive only single-entry visas, with narrow exceptions for humanitarian cases or those holding EU citizenship.
- While visa issuance remains a national competence, the Commission can set Schengen-wide rules on multi-entry visas that consulates must follow.
- The visa curb forms part of a broader package that includes limiting Russian diplomats’ movement in the Schengen area in response to hostile intelligence activity attributed to Moscow.
- The Commission also plans to unveil an EU-wide visa strategy next month outlining stricter criteria, following a 2024 rebound to over 500,000 Schengen visas issued to Russians led by Hungary, France, Spain and Italy.