EU Adopts New Visa and Migration Strategy with Stricter Rules for Russian and Belarusian Nationals

EU Unveils New Five-Year Migration and Visa Strategy

According to Главком: The European Union has approved a new five-year strategy for migration and visa policy, which will have direct implications for citizens of Russia and Belarus. In documents published on January 29, Russia was explicitly labeled an aggressor state, while Belarus was characterized as an accomplice of the Kremlin. The strategy states that since 2021, the use of migration as a political weapon by Russia and Belarus has significantly worsened the security situation in Europe. This move represents a significant hardening of the EU's stance in response to ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Key Provisions of the New EU Visa Strategy

The new EU visa strategy plans a full digitalization of visa procedures, which entails phasing out visa stickers and moving all processes to an electronic format. The strategy also includes the possibility of imposing stricter visa restrictions on nationals of hostile third countries, particularly those conducting hybrid attacks. These measures could be applied to private individuals, holders of diplomatic and service passports, as well as former and current combatants of the aggressor state.

The visa-free regime is no longer considered a permanent right, as the mechanism for suspending it has been strengthened. However, short-term humanitarian visas will remain permissible for human rights defenders, journalists, dissidents, and representatives of civil society. It is important to note that the rights of Ukrainians under the Temporary Protection regime remain unchanged, and the European Union reaffirms that protecting Ukrainian citizens continues to be a priority. For the first time, the new strategy outlines a political goal: a gradual and coordinated exit from the Temporary Protection regime. This policy shift aims to balance security imperatives with the EU's commitment to humanitarian principles.