Helsinki vows to cease being a “transit nation” for Russians with visas issued by different EU members
Finland is “working” on new rules that might additional toughen the restrictions launched in opposition to Russian vacationers, International Minister Pekka Haavisto instructed journalists on Wednesday, on the sidelines of the UN Normal Meeting in New York.
“Finland doesn’t need to be a transit nation, not even for [holders of] Schengen visas issued by different nations,” Haavisto stated, including that Helsinki seeks to carry the Russian vacationer visitors “underneath management.”
The Finnish overseas ministry is at present working with a gaggle of consultants on a “resolution” that might assist Finland “restrict this visitors or fully cease it,” the overseas minister stated, including that the measures may contain some new legal guidelines or amendments to current ones. In any case, the nationwide parliament “will shortly take care of it,” Haavisto stated, with out naming any particular dates for the potential adjustments.
Not like the Baltic States, which repeatedly cited “safety causes” for introducing visa restrictions in opposition to Russian vacationers, Finland doesn’t see Russians touring to the EU as a safety risk, Haavisto stated.
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“An bizarre individual touring for the aim of tourism just isn’t a safety risk,” the minister stated, including that there’s “a ethical and moral precept concerned.” Russians can’t simply proceed to spend their holidays in Europe as regular when their nation is “waging a battle,” in accordance with Haavisto.
Finland already has a mechanism in place that permits it to disclaim visas to Russians and deny entry to those that had already obtained them. Earlier this week, Helsinki additionally requested Brussels to permit EU nations denying entry to a Russian individual to revoke their visas or place them on a Schengen entry ban checklist as nicely. The measure would forestall such individuals from getting into the bloc by one other member’s territory, Finland argued.
UN Secretary-Normal Antonio Guterres has questioned the EU visa restrictions in opposition to Russians. On Sunday, he stated doing so “might not be a good suggestion,” in accordance with the RIA information company.
The EU suspended a visa facilitation settlement with Russia earlier this month. Some member states additionally stopped issuing vacationer and enterprise visas, whereas the three Baltic states and Poland introduced they’d deny entry to all Russian residents, even these with legitimate Schengen visas issued by different EU members.