The introduction of the Visa Information System (VIS), which starts to work in Russia from September 14, has no political overtones and is not connected with the situation around Crimea and Ukraine, the head of the EU Representation in Moscow Vygaudas Usackas stated.
"Last year 15 million visas were issued to 26 Schengen countries, every year the number of issued visas is increasing," he said. "The European response was the introduction of VIS. This decision was made 11 years ago, in 2004. Preparation for the introduction has been carried out for several years," the diplomat explained.
"The introduction of VIS has no relation to the situation in Crimea, the conflict in Ukraine or other existing political issues and disputes," Usackas stressed. "The task is to assist safe and efficient transfer between the citizens of Russia and the EU," TASS quoted him as saying.
