EU capitals clash over Russian tourist visas

In 2025 alone, Schengen states issued nearly half a million tourist visas to Russian citizens, a figure that has drawn sharp criticism from ministers across the Nordics, Baltics, Poland, Czechia, and the Netherlands. Johan Forssell, Sweden’s migration minister, voiced the frustration of the coalition in Luxembourg, declaring an end to the era of "shopping weekends" and leisure trips while the conflict rages on the battlefield. Critics of the current system point to the moral dissonance of allowing Russian tourism to continue while civilian infrastructure in Ukraine remains under constant aerial assault.

Opposing voices within the EU argue that maintaining open borders serves as a vital bridge to Russian citizens, potentially countering Kremlin propaganda by exposing them to democratic societies. However, proponents of a ban emphasize that such considerations fail to outweigh the security risks. An investigation by the International Center for Counter-Terrorism highlights that Russia has orchestrated at least 151 hostile operations across Europe, including sabotage and assassination attempts, since the 2022 invasion. While nations in the East have implemented stringent measures, countries like France, Italy, and Spain continue to issue the highest volumes of visas. For the coalition, a coordinated ban represents an essential, low-cost lever to increase pressure on Moscow as the war enters its fourth year.