The media reported on an initiative in the EU to tighten the rules of entry to Schengen for Russians

A group of 11 European countries has called on Brussels to tighten the rules of entry to the Schengen area for Russian citizens. This was reported by the Politico newspaper on June 4.

According to the agency, the ministers of the Baltic states, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, as well as non-EU Iceland and Norway called for stricter visa policies for Russians in a joint letter addressed to the head of the diplomatic service of the European Union (EU) Kai Kallas and the European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration of the bloc Magnus Brunner.

According to agency sources in European diplomatic circles, representatives of the signatory countries intend to raise this issue at a meeting of the EU Council on Justice and Home Affairs starting on June 4. Their goal is to carry out accelerated procedures and take measures before the start of the holiday season.

However, it is also noted that there is still no consensus on this issue in Europe. Representatives of the countries that have not signed the letter to Brussels urge greater caution.

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On June 2, data from the European Commission revealed that Russian tourists received 14% more approvals for visa applications to the Schengen area in 2025 than a year earlier. Compared to 2024, the number of applications submitted in 2025 increased by 12%: there were 606.8 thousand, and there were 679 thousand. The number of approved applications increased by 14.2%: there were 541.8 approvals in 2024 against 618.8 thousand in 2025.