EU weighs stricter visa curbs on Russian citizens as Baltics warn of hybrid threats

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EU weighs stricter visa curbs on Russian citizens as Baltics warn of hybrid threats
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UK to deploy 300 more troops to Estonia under new defense pact amid Baltic security push
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Latvia and Estonia sign supply security pact to deepen defence and economic ties
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EU weighs stricter visa curbs on Russian citizens as Baltics warn of hybrid threats

Current story

UK to deploy 300 more troops to Estonia under new defense pact amid Baltic security push

1 day ago

Continuation

Baltic states protest Russian disinformation at Moscow ministry over airspace claims

6 days ago

Latvia and Estonia sign supply security pact to deepen defence and economic ties

10 days ago

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Latvia has become the latest pressure point for the European Union as Belarus shifts migrant routes towards its border, forcing Riga to call on its neighbors for support. Lithuania is now considering whether to introduce temporary border controls to manage a rise in secondary migration from Latvia.

Meanwhile, NATO and EU allies are pressing Greece to provide up to 200 PAC-2 Patriot interceptor missiles from its Hellenic Air Force stockpiles to Ukraine. Ukrainian officials have noted that these missiles have been in service for 23 years and may be nearing the end of their operational life. Greece has not indicated a positive response, though one proposal discussed involves selling the missiles to Norway for onward delivery to Ukraine.

In a related development, the Baltics and Poland have warned that Russia could launch limited military or hybrid provocations against NATO. This warning comes amid increasing tensions and concerns about regional security.

At a meeting of the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council in Dublin, Ireland, Minister of the Interior Igor Taro emphasized the need for joint decisions that would enable stricter visa restrictions for Russian citizens. "This is not only a matter of security but also of values," Taro said. The main topics of the meeting were combating international organized crime, the more strategic use of EU visa policy to strengthen internal security and migration cooperation, and EU data exchange with third countries.

In his address to his colleagues, Igor Taro noted that from Estonia's perspective, it is particularly important that restrictive measures are uniform across the European Union and the Schengen visa area, and binding for all. "I agree with European Commissioner Magnus Brunner's statement that the increase in issuing tourist visas to Russian citizens is completely unacceptable at this time. While ordinary Ukrainians are dying in rocket attacks, citizens of the aggressor state cannot be allowed to enjoy holidays and shopping in Europe as if nothing has happened. The Kremlin's goal is to show its own citizens that the war does not significantly affect their lives," Taro said.

According to the Estonian Minister of the Interior, it must be possible to apply visa restrictions flexibly in line with EU interests, including the ability to apply restrictions to specific target groups, such as diplomats, service passport holders, former and current combatants, and church leaders supporting the aggression, as well as based on the purpose of travel. "The latest Schengen Barometer results clearly confirm that the existing non-binding guidelines for issuing visas to Russian citizens have not been sufficient - non-binding measures mean non-binding results," Taro stated.

Estonia has repeatedly pointed out in various security forums that Russian combatants involved in the war of aggression against Ukraine already pose a long-term threat to all of Europe due to their skills, experience, mindset, and violent tendencies. This threat will only grow once active hostilities cease, as these combatants, many of whom are still in Ukraine, will begin to seek new sources of income. Past experience indicates that they often become involved in organized crime or other violent activities, also serving as a recruitment pool for special services and extremist groups.

In another development, the European Commission and the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy published a joint report this week, detailing the implementation of the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP), the EU's main trade tool supporting developing countries' exports. The report confirms that the scheme continues to drive economic progress and sustainable development in beneficiary countries.

Meanwhile, Hungary refused to back the launch of the procedure to open Clusters 2 and 3 for Ukraine and supported only Cluster 3 for Moldova during a meeting of the Working Party on Enlargement and Countries Negotiating Accession to the EU (COELA) on 17 July. No decision has been taken due to objections from other EU countries.

In a significant diplomatic move, Poland and Ukraine signaled readiness to ease bilateral tensions as Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk backed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's five-point plan focused on diplomacy, archives, exhumations, societal dialogue, and historical memory.

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