Nordic states urge EU to block Russian tourist visasblock Russian tourist visas
A group of Nordic and other European states urged the European Commission in Luxembourg on Thursday to tighten rules on tourist visas for Russians.
They want common EU-wide screening and stricter limits on travel by people with military ties as member states keep applying different rules. The push matters because it reflects Europe’s effort to reduce security risks and respond to Russia’s war in Ukraine without a full travel ban.
Nordic and EU supporters
Supporters say uneven visa rules let some Russians bypass stricter countries by applying elsewhere in the Schengen area. They argue that people with links to the Russian armed forces should face tighter screening because the war in Ukraine is still underway.
European Commission approach
The European Commission has been pressed to update the EU Visa Code so member states apply common standards for non-essential travel. Backers of the change say a more uniform system would reduce so-called visa shopping and improve security across the bloc.
- The Schengen area began as a small border-free experiment in 1985.
- Luxembourg hosts several key EU institutions despite being one of Europe’s smallest states.
- EU visa policy often becomes a security issue because a short-stay visa can allow travel across many countries.
Russia-Ukraine War
Russia and Ukraine are locked in an retaliatory long-range drone and missile war that now strikes deep into both countries, including Moscow, St. Petersburg, Crimea, and major Ukrainian cities like Kyiv and Dnipro. Ukrainian forces launched one of their largest drone attacks on June 26, striking 12 Russian regions and hitting key energy targets, while Russia continues massive retaliatory bombardments that kill civilians and destroy infrastructure.
26 June, 09:41 AM
Ukraine unleashes massive drone bombardment on 12 Russian regions24 June, 10:31 AM
Ukrainian drones knock out power in Russian-held Sevastopol22 June, 03:20 PM
Ukraine strikes Russian missile electronics plant in Voronezh
