Germany proposed to the EU to close borders for Russian tourists: details.

According to inkorr.com: The German government plans to introduce strict restrictions on the issuance of tourist visas for Russians. According to a publication in Bild, Eastern European countries express dissatisfaction that Russian citizens with ties to Putin continue to be able to travel to EU countries during the war in Ukraine.

Increase in visa issuance

Despite calls to limit issuance, the number of visas granted to Russians is increasing. In 2024, they received about 542 thousand short-term visas to visit the Schengen area, which is 20% more compared to 2023. The German government plans to discuss a common visa policy with European partners to curb this trend.

“There should be an opportunity, with the consent of the affected country, such as Ukraine, to neutralize drones threatening NATO territory, even in their airspace,” noted an official.

Visa issuance statistics

• Italy - over 152 thousand.
• France - 124 thousand.
• Spain - about 111 thousand.
• Greece - nearly 60 thousand.

In connection with Russia's provocations concerning the use of drones over NATO and EU territory, head of the Bundestag Defense Committee, Thomas Röwekamp, called for urgent countermeasures in case of similar incidents. He emphasized the importance of fighting drones outside the member states of the alliance.

The fact that the issuance of visas to Russians in EU countries is increasing raises concerns in some states, particularly in Germany. The country's authorities support strict restrictions for Russian tourists as they believe that many of them support Putin in the war in Ukraine. This situation calls into question European unity and collective actions regarding Russian aggression.