EU plans to suspend deal easing Russian visa requests

The European Union plans to make it harder for Russians to travel to the bloc by suspending a deal that eases their visa applications, an EU diplomat said Monday.

“We cannot continue the visa policy as it has been up to now,” he said, speaking on condition of anonymity ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Prague to discuss Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“Tourism is not a human right,” he added, underlining the symbolic importance of the 2007 visa facilitation agreement, which marked an attempt to build more positive engagement with Moscow.

The measure, which could come into force in October if approved by member states, does not amount to a formal ban on tourism visas demanded by some of Russia’s EU neighbours.

But it would complicate the process of obtaining travel permission and could slow the flow of Russians travelling to Europe, increasing Moscow’s international isolation.

The EU had already suspended visa facilitation for Russian official delegations and business leaders, but now plans to extend this to other short stay visits.