Poland developing mechanism for EU to stop issuing Visas to Russians

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
14 Aug 2022 21:40

Poland's Foreign Minister made it clear that the country plans to further contribute to exerting pressure on Russia by halting the issuance of Schengen visas to Russian citizens.

Poland developing a mechanism for the EU to stop issuing Visas to Russians

Poland is developing a concept for the European Union to stop issuing Schengen visas to Russian citizens as part of the new sanctions package despite the resistance of some member states, Deputy Foreign Minister Piotr Wawrzyk told the Polish Press Agency.

Poland "supports the extension of the EU sanctions, in particular, on the issue of suspension of the agreement on visa facilitation for Russian citizens," Wawrzyk said. However, according to the official, not all EU member states share this position. The idea is opposed by large countries, including Germany, France, and the Netherlands.

"Since it is impossible to break the resistance of these states to suspend the agreement on visa facilitation for Russian citizens, Poland is working on a new solution," the Polish deputy foreign minister was quoted as saying.

In particular, Warsaw has been negotiating the issue with some EU member states for several weeks, Wawrzyk said, adding that Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia had a similar outlook on visas for Russians.

"We can expect a decision on the issue to be made in the coming weeks," the Polish official said, as quoted by the news outlet.

Poland has not been issuing tourist visas to Russian citizens for several months. Currently, visas are being provided only for truck drivers, diplomats, and other persons who have to cross the Polish-Russian border for work, as well as persons with a Pole's Card - a document confirming Polish nationality - and family members of citizens of Poland or other EU member states.

Earlier in August, the German government began discussions of a draft EU decision to ban the issuance of Schengen visas to Russian citizens as part of the next sanctions package. In addition, the Latvian parliament officially urged EU countries to stop issuing visas to citizens of Russia and Belarus.

Moscow considers proposals to ban the issuance of Schengen visas to Russian citizens as a manifestation of chauvinism. The Kremlin has said that such a decision will definitely entail retaliatory measures and a counter-reaction on the part of Russia.