Schengen
The Schengen Area is a zone of free movement in Europe that encompasses most EU member states together with Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. It was created by the 1985 Schengen Agreement and the subsequent Schengen Convention, and now forms part of the EU acquis, which removes border controls at the internal borders of participating states and sets common rules for the external border, including a common visa policy. Schengen states coordinate visa issuance and border management through EU institutions.
-
Finland urges EU-wide ban on tourist visas for Russian citizens until war ends
Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen called on EU member states to jointly petition the European Commission for a full EU-level ban on tourist visas for Russian citizens until Russia ends its war against Ukraine. In a letter to partners, she laid out five specific restrictive measures, including mandatory visa bans for Vladimir Putin's inner circle and sanctioned persons, restrictions on Russian athletes with state ties, and amendments to the EU Visa Code to allow rapid bloc-wide visa restrictions. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna announced on 13 October that Estonia is joining the call.