🇸🇪⚡ Swedish proposal could ruin Russian summer
Migration Minister Johan Forssell (M) is now coming out with a Swedish initiative that could hit Russian tourists hard in the EU.
Last year, 477,878 Schengen visas were issued to Russian citizens.
Forssell: “It is completely unreasonable that Russian citizens are enjoying luxury holidays while Ukrainians are dying.”
Sweden wants EU countries to be able to deny visas based on nationality — something that is currently not allowed.
The proposal has the support of all Nordic countries, the Baltics, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and Poland.
Why Sweden is pushing this:
– stop Russian luxury tourism
– reduce security threats and espionage
– close loopholes used by the Kremlin
– make a political mark during ongoing wars
Forssell: “We must put an end to Russian weekend trips around the Mediterranean.”
What is happening now:
The proposal is at the EU migration ministers’ meeting in Luxembourg.
If it goes through, Russian travel to the EU could be severely restricted — perhaps as early as this summer, depending on processing times.
In short:
Sweden wants to close the door to Russian tourism.
The question is whether the EU dares to take the step.