UPDATE - EU says no move to ban Russian multi-entry visas as new measures being considered

UPDATES WITH REMARKS FROM EUROPEAN COMMISSION SPOKESPERSON; REVISES HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE

By Melike Pala and Gizem Nisa Demir

BRUSSELS/ISTANBUL (AA) - The European Commission on Thursday said that discussion of banning multi-entry Schengen visas for Russians has not been part of any EU decision, while confirming it is assessing further measures with member states.

Responding to a report that the EU plans to end multi-entry visas for Russians, Commission spokesperson Markus Lammert said at a press briefing in Brussels that the EU "never comments on leaks" but noted the steps already taken since the war began.

Lammert recalled that the EU suspended its visa facilitation agreement with Russia in 2022 and issued guidelines the same year, calling on member states to deprioritize visa applications from Russian nationals and strengthen security and border checks.

"The Commission closely monitors the implementation of these guidelines, and we are working with member states to promote their consistent implementation," he said, adding that these measures have contributed to a significant drop in Schengen visas issued to Russian nationals from more than 4 million in 2019 to 500,000 in 2023.

He stressed, however, that multi-entry visa schemes discussions "were not part of the decisions or the guidelines" adopted so far.

"I can confirm that we are looking into additional measures. We do this in close coordination with member states," he added.

On Wednesday, Politico reported that the bloc is preparing to sharply tighten visa rules for Russian citizens, ending the issuance of multi-entry Schengen permits in most cases as part of new measures against the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Separately, the EU's 19th sanctions package includes new restrictions on Russian diplomats, who will be required to notify member states before traveling across the Schengen Area to counter what Brussels called “increasingly hostile intelligence activities.”

The commission is also due next month to present a new bloc-wide visa strategy, urging member countries to "leverage visa policy against hostile states" and apply stricter criteria to nationals from Russia and other countries deemed security risks.