Overview

• Greek outlet Pronews, cited by RIA Novosti, reported that Greece, Italy, Spain, France and Hungary vetoed an initiative to restrict visa issuance to Russian citizens.
• Pronews said Greece rejected the measure over fears of severe damage to its tourism sector.
• Euractiv previously reported that tighter Schengen rules for Russians were being considered for inclusion in the upcoming 19th EU sanctions package.
• EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has acknowledged that agreeing new sanctions measures is becoming more difficult.
• Russian business group figure Oleg Nikolaev criticized the reported visa-tightening idea as discriminatory and harmful to people and commerce, predicting a further shift to domestic tourism if access were cut.