11:09 - 5.06.2026

---

June 5, Fineko/abc.az. Ministers from 11 European countries have sent a joint letter to the European Commission, demanding stricter and more mandatory measures for issuing Schengen visas to Russian citizens.

ABC.AZ informs that the appeal, signed by the relevant ministers of Poland, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway and Iceland, is addressed to EU High Representative Kaja Kallas and European Commissioner Magnus Brunner.

Key theses of the appeal:

Security risks: The letter stresses that easy access to the Schengen area increases security threats, and the possibility of hundreds of thousands of Russian military personnel who took part in the war in Ukraine entering Europe is a matter of serious concern.

Visa issuance statistics: Despite the suspension of the visa facilitation agreement in 2022, the rules are applied unevenly by EU members. Thus, contrary to the recommendations of the European Commission, in 2025, 477,878 tourist Schengen visas were issued to Russian citizens, a significant part of which turned out to be multiple-entry.

Coordination requirement: Ministers stated that differences in visa policies between countries lead to "visa shopping" and threaten the integrity of the Schengen area. A unified and coordinated approach is needed to ensure the EU's security.