By Riffat Kausa
Scandinavian News Agency
Finland wants the EU to stop issuing tourist visas to Russians altogether, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has said, according to SNN News Finland. He plans to put the proposal to leaders at next week’s European Council meeting, the summit where EU heads of government set political direction.
Orpo argues that EU tourist visas for Russians leave a security gap. He says European countries issued 800,000 such visas last year, while Finland issued none. These figures come from Orpo and have not been independently verified.
Why Finland Wants EU Tourist Visas for Russians Stopped
A tourist visa is a short-stay permit that lets a foreign visitor enter a country for travel. Orpo wants EU members to stop granting them to Russian citizens, extending a policy Finland already follows at home.
The report says Finland stopped issuing tourist visas to Russians in 2022. Helsinki has also kept its land border with Russia closed since December 2023. Finland now wants these restrictions applied across the whole European Union.
It is not clear which governments, if any, back the idea. The notes also do not explain what legal form a ban would take or how it would be enforced across all member states. Those questions would likely be settled in negotiations among EU governments.
Orpo’s Sabotage Argument
Orpo justified the proposal by pointing to the risk of Russian sabotage operations in Europe. Sabotage means deliberate damage to infrastructure, equipment or services, often carried out in secret.
He put the question directly to his European counterparts. “If we fear that Russia is trying to carry out acts of sabotage in Europe, why on earth are we so naive as to let them in as tourists and allow them to move around freely?” the Finnish prime minister asked.
The report does not cite specific incidents or intelligence findings behind his concern. It also does not say whether any sabotage case has been tied to a visitor travelling on a tourist visa. Details like these would help readers judge how strong the evidence for the proposal is.
The Debate Over EU Tourist Visas for Russians
No response from the Russian government or from other EU leaders was included in the report. Broad travel restrictions of this kind are often debated, and the general arguments on each side are well known.
Supporters say limiting entry reduces security risks when relations with a country are hostile. Opponents say a blanket ban penalises ordinary travellers, including people with family ties in Europe or those who oppose their own government, and can be hard to apply fairly. No named critic was quoted here, so these are general points of debate, not statements from this story’s sources.
Because the proposal would need agreement among EU governments, its outcome is uncertain. Finland’s own experience shows a national ban is possible, but extending it Europe-wide is a different step.
Key Facts
- Finnish PM Petteri Orpo plans to ask the EU to stop issuing tourist visas to Russians
- He will present the proposal at next week’s European Council meeting
- Orpo says European countries issued 800,000 such visas last year, while Finland issued none
- Finland stopped issuing them in 2022 and has kept its land border with Russia closed since December 2023
- Orpo cites the threat of Russian sabotage; the figures are unverified
- EU Tourist Visas for Russians
FAQs:
What is Finland proposing?
That the EU stop issuing tourist visas to Russians entirely.
When will Orpo present the idea?
At next week’s European Council meeting, according to the report.
What reason does Orpo give?
Fears that Russia could be behind covert sabotage campaigns on European soil.
What is Finland already doing?
It stopped issuing tourist visas to Russians in 2022 and has kept its land border with Russia closed since December 2023.
Has the EU or Russia responded?
No response was included in the report.
What to Watch Next
The first test will be the European Council meeting, where Orpo is expected to raise the issue. Readers should look for reactions from other EU leaders, the European Commission and the Russian government.
This is a developing story. SNN News Finland will update it when verified details emerge, and any change to the date or substance of the proposal will be noted.
Finland’s push for a full ban on EU tourist visas for Russian citizens highlights growing security concerns and ongoing debates over European visa policy and relations with Russia.
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