BRUSSELS: The European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has said that a complete ban on Russians entering the bloc was "not a good idea", amid reports that member states were preparing to suspend a visa agreement with Moscow.
"I am not in favour of stopping delivering visas to all Russians," Borrell told Austrian broadcaster ORF in an interview, dpa reported.
He said he didn't believe that cutting off contact with Russian civilians would have positive results, and he also said he did not believe the idea would achieve the required unanimity among member states.
Borrell said it was necessary to review some visa processes to certain groups of Russians but rejected a blanket ban.
"We have to be selective, we cannot take a general measure," he said, adding that he was sure there would be a balanced approach from EU foreign ministers due to meet in the coming week.
The idea of restricting Russian tourists to the EU has emerged recently after countries witnessed Russians arriving for summer holidays via neighbouring EU countries.
A visa issued by any one country grants access to all 26 members of the Schengen passport-free zone.
The Financial Times had earlier reported that EU member states were preparing to suspend a 2007 visa facilitation agreement with Russia over the Ukraine war.
EU foreign ministers are set to give the suspension political backing at a two-day informal meeting in Prague on Tuesday and Wednesday, the British newspaper said, citing three officials involved in the talks.
The move would widen the partial suspension imposed in February for Russian government officials and business leaders to now include civilian Russian applicants for EU visas, the Financial Times said. (IANS)
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