Canada
This article was added by the user . TheWorldNews is not responsible for the content of the platform.

EU says ‘stricter assessment’ needed for Russians seeking travel visas

Author of the article:

Reuters

Reuters

BRUSSELS — The European Commission said on Friday that an escalation of the security threat by Moscow meant EU member states should make “stricter assessments” of applications by Russians for travel visas, especially those made from third countries.

European Union countries have been discussing this week how to treat Russians trying to get into the bloc to avoid President Vladimir Putin’s call-up for the war in Ukraine.

Sign up to receive the daily top stories from the National Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc.

By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You may unsubscribe any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300

The number of draft-age men heading abroad since Putin called up 300,000 reservists last week has posed a dilemma for EU members, particularly eastern countries, that had been limiting Russians’ access in response to the war. It has also raised fears of possible security risks at frontiers.

Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson, presenting new guidelines from the EU’s executive Commission, said member states should carefully assess visa applications in light of the heightened threat.

“Member states need to do a very thorough security assessment and, if a person could be a security threat or be a threat towards the international relation for some of the member states, this person should not be issued a visa,” she said in a news conference.

She said visas should not be issued for those who intend to stay longer than 90 days and – noting that many Russians had recently left – said EU states should not accept Schengen visa applications from Russian citizens now in third countries.

However, she said all Russians still had the right to apply for asylum, and could apply for a long-term or residence visa.

“I would say that it’s important not to mix up the right to have a tourist visa or short-term visa into the EU – it’s not a right, it’s a privilege. The right to apply for asylum is a fundamental right.”

Pointing to Putin’s intention to annex four regions of Ukraine, she said: “This is clearly an escalation of the conflict, an escalation of the war, and that means also an escalation of the security threat towards the European Union, and we need to act on that and we need to follow this very closely.” (Reporting by Bart Meijer and John Chalmers; Editing by Paul Simao)