Overview
- On March 13, the leaders sent a letter to European Council President António Costa and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen requesting proposals for EU-level visa restrictions, including possible Visa Code amendments.
- The initiative is backed by Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Finland, Sweden, Germany and Romania.
- The letter argues former or active Russian fighters could fuel organized crime, extremist movements or hostile activities, with Schengen free movement magnifying security risks across borders.
- Travel-industry estimates cited by officials note 620,000–670,000 Schengen visa applications by Russian nationals in 2025, with roughly four in five approved, underscoring the sense of urgency.
- Estonia has already issued national entry bans on identified Russian military personnel (261 in January and 1,073 in February), and Lithuania is preparing similar measures, with the authors seeking the topic’s inclusion in March summit conclusions.