EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson has warned that Europe may have to tighten visa policies in light of the security threats posed by Russian citizens. Johansson confirmed that she is concerned about the bloc’s visa practices, which allowed almost 450,000 Russian citizens to visit Europe last year. The Guardian reports this.
Ylva Johansson, who will resign as EU Home Affairs and Migration Commissioner at the end of the month, told reporters that the rules for Russia may need to be “clarified.” According to him, in 2023 Schengen countries issued 448,890 visas to Russian citizens, a much smaller number than three years ago, but still a significant figure.
The commissioner expressed concern about possible security threats due to increasing incidents of sabotage and espionage, including arson, shipments of explosives and a plot to assassinate the head of a German defense company. Speaking to members of parliament in September, Johansson said EU member states face a threat from Russia every day.
“Now is not the time to relax security, as this would undermine the security of the entire Schengen area.” – he said before members of the European Parliament.
EADaily Recall that at the beginning of 2022, the EU suspended the visa facilitation agreement with Moscow, as a result of which the number of Schengen visas issued to Russians decreased by 89% compared to the year before Covid- 2019. According to official data, Russians were previously the most successful group of Schengen visa applicants, but now they are behind citizens of China, Turkey, India and Morocco. But the number of trips has not stopped either: in 2023, Italy, France, Spain and Greece processed more than 80% of visa applications from Russia.
Johansson clarified that she has initiated a review of visa rules, although the final decision will still depend on her successor. Magnus Brunner. According to the European Commissioner, it is necessary to clarify whether member countries apply visa rules equally. Johansson has also addressed complaints from European Union member states that Hungary is allegedly undermining European security by making it easier for Russians and Belarusians to obtain work permits, which in turn gives them access to the entire area. 29-nation Schengen.
In July, Hungary announced that its residence permit system for workers would be expanded to six countries, including Russia and Belarus. The decision was made after the visit of the Prime Minister of Hungary. Victor Orbán to Moscow. The meeting took place at the time when Hungary assumed the presidency of the EU. Furthermore, Orban’s allies accused other EU countries of hypocrisy over Russian visas and residency rights.
in september Andras Laszlomember of Orban’s Fidesz party, condemned before the European Parliament tens of thousands of visas issued to Russians by France, Spain and Greece.
“Do you know how many debates there were on this topic in the European Parliament? – he asked rhetorically. – Zero”.
