Monday

2nd Oct 2023

EU preparing to launch visa-free talks with Russia

  • Russian police arrest human rights activist in Moscow. The visa free move could be seen as a 'present' to Putin despite lack of reform in Russia, one analyst said (Photo: Antonio Grossi)

France and Germany have said the EU should quickly open talks with Russia on visa-free travel despite fears it might send the wrong signal to other post-Soviet states.

EUobserver understands the foreign ministers of the two countries outlined their position at an informal dinner in Brussels on Sunday (13 November) with foreign relations chief Catherine Ashton and fellow EU ministers.

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Become an expert on Europe

Get instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.

... or subscribe as a group

A senior Polish diplomat on Tuesday noted that Warsaw is happy to go along with the plan: "We believe in dismantling obstacles to freedom of tourists and businessmen to travel ... If some of our member states want to move on visa liberalisation with Russia, good, Poland is at the spearhead [of the process] with the local border traffic agreement for Kaliningrad."

The contact was referring to an agreement by EU interior ministers earlier this month to free up travel for cross-border traders in the Russian exclave in a move which could enter into force by the end of the year.

The Polish diplomat added that if Russia is to take steps toward visa-free travel, then the EU should help other post-Soviet countries, such as Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine to make progress on the same path.

Romanian foreign minister Teodor Baconschi on Monday also warned there should be no special treatment for Moscow. "At the Sunday informal dinner on Russia we asked for 'regional coherence' on mobility. Meaning, visas should not to be liberalised for Russia while leaving other partners in the region waiting," he said.

The visa question is highly political because it risks giving the impression Russia is more important to the EU than smaller post-Soviet countries that want to join the EU.

Ukraine started visa-free talks last December and in January with Moldova but with harder pre-conditions on technical compliance with EU standards than Russia.

A joint letter to Ashton by German foreign minister Guido Westerwelle and Poland's Radek Sikorski at the weekend underlined the fact Russia is in a different league.

The ministers noted that Russia has far to go in terms of democracy and human rights, but said it "holds great political influence ... offers considerable economical opportunities and owns enormous natural resources." It added: "[A] strong and ambitious partnership between the EU and Russia will not only have a positive effect on our security but also contribute to Europe’s geopolitical weight and influence."

The launch of visa free talks is an open-ended process that could take years before travel restrictions are actually lifted, with Ukraine and Moldova still in pole position in the race due to previous reforms.

Writing in his blog in EUobserver, European Council on Foreign Relations analyst Nicu Popescu noted the Russia move could be seen as a "present" that legitimises Russian Prime Minister's takeover of the Russian presidency next year, however.

He said Russia poses a variety of immigration challenges because it is the second largest source in the world of asylu`zx m seekers after Afghanistan and because it is unlikely to welcome missions on its borders with, for example, Kazakhstan, to monitor implementation.

Popescu added on Tuesday, however: "Overall I think it is good for Russia to start and conclude these talks ... Moving faster on Russia will also make the EU be more open to visa free with Moldova-Ukraine and vice- versa."

This stoy was amended at 13.30 Brussels time on 15 November to reflect more accurately the Polish position on visas

Opinion

Russia's post-BRIC election

With the results for the Russian parliamentary election almost all counted, it is clear that Vladimir Putin and his party United Russia have received both another landslide victory and a bruising defeat.

Column

Will Poles vote for the end of democracy?

International media must make clear that these are not fair, democratic elections. The flawed race should be the story at least as much as the race itself.

Opinion

Orbán's 'revenge law' is an Orwellian crackdown on education

On Tuesday, the Hungarian parliament passed a troubling piece of legislation known by its critics as the 'revenge law', which aims to punish and intimidate teachers who dare to defy Viktor Orbán's regime. This law is a brutally oppressive tool.

Latest News

  1. European Political Community and key media vote This WEEK
  2. Is the ECB sabotaging Europe's Green Deal?
  3. The realists vs idealists Brussels battle on Ukraine's EU accession
  4. EU women promised new dawn under anti-violence pact
  5. Three steps EU can take to halt Azerbaijan's mafia-style bullying
  6. Punish Belarus too for aiding Putin's Ukraine war
  7. Added-value for Russia diamond ban, as G7 and EU prepare sanctions
  8. EU states to agree on asylum crisis bill, say EU officials

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Nordic Council of MinistersThe Nordic Region is stepping up its efforts to reduce food waste
  2. International Medical Devices Regulators Forum (IMDRF)Join regulators, industry & healthcare experts at the 24th IMDRF session, September 25-26, Berlin. Register by 20 Sept to join in person or online.
  3. UNOPSUNOPS begins works under EU-funded project to repair schools in Ukraine
  4. Georgia Ministry of Foreign AffairsGeorgia effectively prevents sanctions evasion against Russia – confirm EU, UK, USA
  5. International Medical Devices Regulators Forum (IMDRF)Join regulators & industry experts at the 24th IMDRF session- Berlin September 25-26. Register early for discounted hotel rates
  6. Nordic Council of MinistersGlobal interest in the new Nordic Nutrition Recommendations – here are the speakers for the launch

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Nordic Council of Ministers20 June: Launch of the new Nordic Nutrition Recommendations
  2. International Sustainable Finance CentreJoin CEE Sustainable Finance Summit, 15 – 19 May 2023, high-level event for finance & business
  3. ICLEISeven actionable measures to make food procurement in Europe more sustainable
  4. World BankWorld Bank Report Highlights Role of Human Development for a Successful Green Transition in Europe
  5. Nordic Council of MinistersNordic summit to step up the fight against food loss and waste
  6. Nordic Council of MinistersThink-tank: Strengthen co-operation around tech giants’ influence in the Nordics

Join EUobserver

Support quality EU news

Join us