The Finnish Minister of Foreign Affairs presented Thursday, August 4 a plan to limit the tourist visas issued to Russians, more and more numerous to go to this Nordic country to transit to other European countries.
Flights from Russia to the EU were indeed interrupted after the outbreak of the Russian offensive in Ukraine on February 24.
Finland, which shares a long border with Russia, has therefore become an important transit country for Russian travellers.
“
Many saw this as a circumvention of the sanctions regime
,” Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto told AFP.
Finland is seeking to join NATO, and political and popular support for the alliance skyrocketed after Moscow invaded Ukraine.
But the Nordic country remains to this day the only EU member country and neighbor of Russia without restrictions on tourist visas for Russian citizens.
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The Schengen regime and Finnish law do not allow a total visa ban based on nationality, but Helsinki can reduce the number of visas issued based on category, including tourist visas, noted Pekka Haavisto.
The ministry therefore presented a proposal to the government on Thursday that would allow Finland to "
give preference
" to groups such as family members and students, while reducing tourist visas.
If the government gives the green light, a decision could be made by the end of the month.