European Union foreign ministers intend to support the suspension of the EU's Visa Facilitation Agreement with Russia to limit the number of visas issued to Russians, the Financial Times reported on Sunday.
EU foreign ministers plan to make this decision at a two-day meeting in Prague starting on Tuesday, the Financial Times reports citing three sources who participated in the talks. "It is inappropriate for Russian tourists to walk in our cities, along our marinas. We have to send a signal to the Russian population that this war is unacceptable, it is unacceptable," said a senior EU official.
The plan to suspend the 2007 agreement calls for the end of preferential treatment for Russians when applying for all EU visas. "We are in an exceptional situation and this requires exceptional steps. We want to go further than the suspension of visa facilities," said a high-ranking European official.
Finland, Poland and the Baltic states bordering Russia have said they are prepared to stop Russians from entering their territory on tourist visas, citing national security exceptions to the Schengen agreement. "I really hope that a common European solution will be found on how to significantly limit the flow of Russian tourists to Europe," said Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis.