The EU has reached an agreement on Russian visas

EU settlement on Russian visas

Of: 

Amanda Hällsten 

Paula Westerberg 

Published: Yesterday 15.40 

Updated: Yesterday 17.30 

Ann Linde. Ann Linde. Photo: LOTTE FERNVALL 

NEWS 

There was no total stop for Russian tourist visas within the EU. 

But now they agree to tear up the agreement that made the procedure simpler and cheaper. 

- This means that it will be incredibly difficult to get a visa to the EU for Russian citizens, says Ann Linde to TT. 

Since 2007, the EU has had an agreement with Russia on visa facilitation, making it easier for Russians to get visas to the EU. 

But during the EU foreign ministers' meeting in Prague today, it was decided that that agreement should be cancelled. It follows that the processing times for visas will be longer, and that the price will more than double, according to SR.

- This means that it will be incredibly difficult to get a visa to the EU for Russian citizens. There will be an incredibly sharp change in the possibilities of entering the EU for Russians, says Ann Linde to TT. 

Some EU countries would rather see a total visa freeze, but that did not happen, which was expected because the issue is dividing the EU. 

Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania say they will implement their own visa freeze for Russians if the EU does not do so, while Hungary and others are against it, SVT reports. 

Germany is also opposed and according to Euronews, the country's Chancellor Olaf Scholtz said after a meeting in Oslo with Nordic leaders that this is not the Russian people's war, but Putin's, and that one must be clear about that.