Council Decision (EU) 2022/1500 on the suspension in whole of the application of the Agreement between the European Community and Russia on the facilitation of the issuance of visas to the citizens of the European Union and Russia

Author (Corporate)
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Series Details L 234I, Pages 1/3
Publication Date 09/09/2022
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Summary:

Decision (EU) 2022/1500 - formally adopted by the Council of the European Union on 9 September 2022 - concerning the suspension in whole of the application of the Agreement between the European Union (EU) and Russia on the issuance of visas to their citizens.

Further information:

The agreement between the European Community and the Russian Federation on the facilitation of the issuance of visas to their citizens was signed in May 2006 and entered into force in June 2007, in parallel with another Agreement on readmission. The aim of the Agreement was to facilitate, on the basis of reciprocity, the issuance of visas for an intended stay of no more than 90 days per period of 180 days to the citizens of the EU and Russia.

In February 2022, the European Council condemned Russia's military aggression against Ukraine. Restrictive measures were introduced against Russia, as well as a partial suspension of the visa facilitation agreement for diplomats, other Russian officials and business people. On 6 September, the European Commission introduced a draft Decision aimed at suspending the whole of the Agreement. At their informal meeting on 31 August, foreign affairs ministers reached an agreement to move forward with the full suspension of the visa facilitation agreement. The Decision was formally adopted on 9 September and published in the Official Journal on the same day.

Source Link http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2022/1500/oj
Related Links
Commentary and Analysis
Verfassungsblog: Debates: European Visa for Russian Tourists? https://verfassungsblog.de/category/debates/european-visa-for-russian-tourists-debates/
The New Statesman, 12/08/2022: Volodymyr Zelensky is wrong to ask the West to ban Russian tourists https://www.newstatesman.com/world/europe/ukraine/2022/08/russians-tourist-visa-ban-estonia-zelensky
Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA), 12/08/2022: Visa Bans: Help Our Russian Friends, Punish Our Enemies https://cepa.org/visa-bans-help-our-russian-friends-punish-our-enemies/
European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR): Commentary, 18/08/2022: Unmoved: Why a ban on Russians’ visas won’t help https://ecfr.eu/article/unmoved-why-a-ban-on-russians-visas-wont-help/
Euro|topics, August 2022: Visa ban for Russian tourists? https://www.eurotopics.net/en/286510/
openDemocracy: oDR: Opinion, 06/09/2022: Why calls to ban Russian tourists from Europe are unwise https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/odr/europe-visa-ban-on-russians-is-unwise-and-illegal/
International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS): Analysis, 07/09/2022: A visa ban is a sanction the West should impose https://www.iiss.org/blogs/analysis/2022/09/a-visa-ban-is-a-sanction-the-west-should-impose

News
EUObserver, 10/08/2022: EU urged to stop issuing tourist visas to Russians https://euobserver.com/ukraine/155737
RTÉ News, 12/08/2022: EU presidency mulls visa ban for all Russians https://www.rte.ie/news/ukraine/2022/0812/1315385-russia-eu/
The Moscow Times, 16/08/2022: Russians Scramble for Visas as EU Mulls Travel Restrictions https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2022/08/16/russians-scramble-for-visas-as-eu-mulls-travel-restrictions-a78570
France24, 18/08/2022: Europe divided over banning Russian tourists https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220818-europe-divided-over-banning-russian-tourists
RFE/RL, 19/08/2022: EU Countries Ponder Visa Ban For Russians Over Ukraine War https://www.rferl.org/a/eu-russia-visa-ban-ukraine-war/31996294.html
Reuters, 30/08/2022: EU to tighten visa rules for Russians but split on travel ban https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eu-foreign-policy-chief-eyes-green-light-ukraine-training-mission-2022-08-30/
Le Monde, 30/08/2022: EU members divided on whether to suspend visas issued to Russians https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2022/08/30/eu-members-divided-on-whether-to-suspend-visas-issued-to-russians_5995239_4.html
Politico, 31/08/2022: EU routes to hit Russia dwindle as countries split on visa ban https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-route-hit-russia-dwindle-countries-split-visa-ban/
The Guardian, 31/08/2022: EU foreign ministers agree to suspend visa travel deal with Russia https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/aug/31/eu-foreign-ministers-agree-to-suspend-visa-travel-deal-with-russia
EurActiv, 31/08/2022: EU to suspend visa deal with Russia, gives border countries more leverage https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/eu-to-suspend-visa-deal-with-russia-gives-border-countries-more-leverage/
Euronews, 31/08/2022: EU foreign ministers agree to scrap Russia visa deal but stop short of full tourist ban https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2022/08/31/eu-foreign-ministers-agree-to-scrap-russia-visa-deal-but-stop-short-of-full-tourist-ban
Associated Press (AP News), 31/08/2022: EU to tighten travel rules for Russians, but no visa ban https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-travel-national-security-belgium-973cb8dfaaf45f61c6452547e27361de
Deutsche Welle, 31/08/2022: EU foreign ministers agree to suspend Russian visa accord https://p.dw.com/p/4GGru
Kathimerini, 31/08/2022: EU foreign ministers agree to suspend visa deal with Russia https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1192208/eu-foreign-ministers-agree-to-suspend-visa-deal-with-russia/
Bloomberg, 06/09/2022: Russians to Face Higher Fees, Stricter Rules for EU Visas https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-09-06/russians-to-face-higher-fees-stricter-rules-for-eu-visas
BBC News, 07/09/2022: Ukraine war: Russians to pay €45 more to enter EU under new rules https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-62811675

Official
EUR-LEX: COM(2022)661: Proposal for a Council Decision on the suspension in whole of the application of the Agreement between the European Community and the Russian Federation on the facilitation of the issuance of visas to the citizens of the European Union and the Russian Federation https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=COM:2022:661:FIN
European Commission: Press Release, 06/09/2022: Commission proposes full suspension of Visa Facilitation Agreement with Russia https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_22_5346
European Commission: Questions and Answers – Proposal for the suspension of the EU-Russia Visa Facilitation Agreement (6 September 2022) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_22_5344
Council of the European Union: Press Release, 09/09/2022: Council adopts full suspension of visa facilitation with Russia https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2022/09/09/council-adopts-full-suspension-of-visa-facilitation-with-russia/

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