Germany and France oppose a blanket ban on the issuance of Schengen visas to Russians, DPA reported on Tuesday, citing a joint position paper sent to the other EU member states ahead of a meeting of the bloc’s foreign ministers in Prague.
"We should think about smart ways to make use of the important lever of the issuing of visas," the paper reads, calling for a close scrutiny of visa applications from Russian citizens for potential security risks. The experience of life in democratic systems should not be underestimated, especially for future generations, the paper warns.
"Our visa policies should reflect that and continue to allow for people-to-people contacts in the EU with Russian nationals not linked to the Russian government," DPA quoted the paper as reading. According to the document, the legal framework should therefore be maintained allowing students, artists, scientists and experts to enter the European Union, regardless of whether they are faced with political persecution.
