The European Commission has committed to tightening Schengen visa requirements for citizens of Russia, Euronews reported. Marcus Lammert, the European Commission spokesperson for migration, announced the upcoming policy shift during a press briefing on Friday, June 5.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. Targeted measures slated for next year Lammert clarified that the European Commission will introduce “targeted restrictive measures” as part of an official revision of the Schengen Visa Code scheduled for next year. Because the legislative framework requires formal drafting and review, the new restrictions will not alter travel regulations for the current summer season. The European Commission’s intervention was triggered by a joint letter sent by a coalition of 11 European nations, including Sweden, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, and Poland. The authors of the appeal sharply condemned the current “fragmentation” and lack of policy coordination within the EU, arguing that allowing a steady influx of Russian travelers undermines public trust, regional security, and European solidarity. Western European nations under fire The primary criticism leveled by the 11-country coalition was directed at France, Italy, and Spain. Statistical data from 2025 revealed that these Mediterranean and Western European nations approved the vast majority of Russian applications. France led the EU by issuing nearly 180,000 Schengen visas to Russian citizens in 2025, marking a significant increase compared to 2024 metrics.