European Union countries are discussing a softened version of restrictions on issuing visas to former Russian military personnel after objections from Italy and France, Euronews reports.
Under the version now being considered, the ban would apply only to short-stay visas and only to Russians who directly took part in the war against Ukraine. The measure is expected to be included in the EU’s 21st package of sanctions against Russia, which the bloc wants to adopt in mid-July.
A much broader approach had initially been proposed: the restrictions would have covered everyone in some way connected to the Russian armed forces. Exceptions were to be allowed only if an applicant could prove they were a dissident or had fled the army. Even in that case, the visa would have been valid only in the country that issued it.
The EU presented its 21st sanctions package in early June. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed adding an entry ban for all Russians who had taken part in the war or served in the military after February 24, 2022.
As Euronews notes, Rome and Paris did not oppose the idea of restricting entry for former Russian military personnel itself. However, they argued that the original proposal could lead to a “blanket ban” on Russians entering the EU.
Italy and France also said such restrictions should be governed primarily by visa policy rather than by the sanctions regime. They further warned of practical difficulties for countries that process large numbers of Russian visa applications.
Rome and Paris separately pointed out that in Russia all men aged 18 to 30 are required to complete compulsory military service. For that reason, they considered overly broad restrictions potentially problematic.