European Union ministers are considering the implementation of visa restrictions for Russian tourists, according to Johan Forssell, Sweden’s Minister for Migration. His remarks were made ahead of a meeting of EU interior and justice ministers.
Forssell noted that nearly 500,000 Russian tourists entered Europe last year. He expressed a desire to halt what he termed ‘shopping weekends’ and luxury trips to Europe while the conflict in Ukraine continues. ‘We are looking for a new opportunity to say no to Russian tourists traveling in Europe while our Ukrainian friends are suffering,’ he stated.
Poland’s Deputy Minister of the Interior, Maciej Duszczyk, expressed support for Forssell’s initiative. He remarked, ‘We previously discussed that it is unacceptable to impose sanctions on one hand while issuing hundreds of thousands of tourist visas to Russian citizens who vacation on European beaches. It is commendable that the Swedes have raised this initiative, and we are joining this discussion to end such duality.’
“We are very principled when it comes to our relations with Russia, yet we are still issuing tourist visas that should not be granted,” Duszczyk added.
Finland’s Minister of the Interior, Mari Rantanen, also criticized the number of visas being issued to Russians. She stated, ‘Russia has been pursuing an aggressive policy for over four years, attacking Ukraine, while EU countries continue to issue too many tourist visas. This situation is completely unacceptable and must not continue.’
“We cannot allow this to persist,” Rantanen emphasized.
Estonia’s Minister of the Interior, Igor Taro, supported the initiative, highlighting concerns about Russian individuals who have participated in military actions against Ukraine potentially entering the Schengen area. He noted, ‘A significant issue for the EU is the entry of Russians who have been involved in combat against Ukraine. It is widely recognized that this poses a future problem for Europe, as these individuals may seek new challenges here.’
“We want to prevent them from entering the Schengen area. This is not a place for them to come,” Taro stated.
Taro also mentioned Estonia’s initiative to blacklist Russian military personnel, with over 2,000 individuals already added to the list. He expressed gratitude to other EU countries that have begun compiling similar lists and emphasized the need for a coordinated European approach.
“We look forward to the Commission’s proposals for a comprehensive and long-term solution,” he said.
On June 3, eleven EU countries signed a letter to the European Commission urging the urgent suspension of Schengen visas for Russians. According to the letter’s authors, Russians received at least 477,000 tourist Schengen visas in 2025, with France, Italy, Spain, and Greece being the leading issuers.
EU ministers are exploring visa restrictions for Russian tourists amid ongoing concerns about the conflict in Ukraine. Several ministers have voiced support for limiting tourist access while highlighting the contradiction of issuing visas alongside sanctions against Russia.