EU to terminate agreement on simplified visa regime with Russia - Financial Times

This is reported by the Financial Times.  

According to the publication, next week the heads of foreign affairs of the EU countries will propose to terminate the agreement on the simplified issuance of visas with Russia, which has been in effect since 2007. This will happen at a two-day meeting of ministers, which will begin on August 29 in Prague (Czech Republic). 

According to FT sources, France and Germany opposed such a decision, but were forced to make concessions as a number of Eastern European countries threatened to unilaterally close their borders to Russian tourists.

"It is inappropriate for Russian tourists to stroll through our cities and our marinas while the war in Ukraine continues. We are in an exceptional situation, and it requires exceptional actions. We want to go beyond just suspending the visa regime", the unnamed senior official said. 

He added that by the end of 2022, the EU may resort to more serious visa measures against Russia.

Tearing up the deal would mean Russians trying to get a visa would have to provide more documents. The visa will also be more expensive and take significantly longer, the FT notes.