Following opposition from France and Italy, the European Union is debating a more limited version of its plan to prohibit the issuance of visas to Russian military veterans and soldiers, restricting the measure to short-stay visas and those who directly participated in the combat in Ukraine.
Given that Russia mandates military conscription for all male citizens between the ages of 18 and 30, who must spend a year in the armed forces, France and Italy had previously questioned the measure’s viability.
Additionally, the exemptions have been expanded. Only those who could demonstrate they were dissidents or defectors from the Russian army would be eligible for an exemption under the initial proposal. Additionally, the most recent version permits admission or passage for international commitments, national interest, or humanitarian grounds.
For these exceptions, the visa would only be valid in the EU nation that issued it, therefore the holder would not be able to travel to another member state without that nation’s permission.
Since the restriction would put a heavy administrative burden on consular services that must conduct case-by-case evaluations, practical questions are still expected to come up during the ambassadors’ meeting on Wednesday.
The Commission has promised to change its guidelines on granting visas to Russian applicants and amend the necessary supporting documentation in order to allay these worries.
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