EU member states agreed to press ahead with an EU-wide visa ban for former and current members of the Russian army, alongside tougher visa restrictions for Russian tourists, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Wednesday.
"There was broad support to move with an EU visa entry ban for Russian ex-combatants and tougher visa restrictions for Russian tourists," Kallas said at a press conference following an informal meeting of Foreign Affairs Ministers in Wicklow, Ireland.
In the 21st sanctions package adopted in July, the European Commission had originally proposed barring EU members from issuing visas to anyone involved in Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.
During negotiations, the measure was significantly narrowed down after France and Italy objected, arguing it would put a heavy burden on consulates to carry out case-by-case assessments exposed to litigation.
By the time the package was adopted, the ban had been downgraded to a mere legal basis for prohibiting short-stay visas to applicants who have served in the Russian armed forces since the war in Ukraine began.
