Renew Europe: crackdown on Russian visas for EU security

The centrist group’s initiative follows repeated calls from the European Parliament for stricter controls on the entry of Russian and Belarusian citizens into the European Union, including strengthened security checks during the Schengen visa application procedure. Parliament also required applicants to provide documentation of military service, while maintaining humanitarian exemptions for dissidents, human rights defenders and people fleeing persecution.

For the MEP Malik Azmani, Committee member Libe, Dutch, “at a time when Russia continues its aggression against Ukraine and intensifies hybrid threats against Europe destabilizing our democracies, we cannot afford a fragmented approach to Schengen visas. A common European framework is needed to strengthen our security, fill existing gaps and ensure that the Russians cannot exploit our openness, while Europe remains united in defending its values ​​and security. European security must come first.”

Second Petr AuštrevičiusLithuanian MEP of the Foreign Affairs Committee and Renew Europe’s permanent rapporteur on Russia and Belarus, “in light of the war of aggression waged by Russia against Ukraine, it would be unjustifiable, both from a political and humanitarian point of view, to continue with tourism as if nothing had happened. We must send a strong message to the Russian people, urging them to take action to stop their government from killing innocent people in Ukraine. Those responsible for the aggression and crimes must know that we are aware of their actions, which are not welcome in the EU and that justice will be done.”

According to the Schengen Barometer 2026, visa requests from Russia increased by 8% in 2025, with 623,451 seen released in the European free movement area. Renew Europe warns that current visa procedures remain “too fragmented” and create potential security risks, at a time when Russia continues its war of aggression against Ukraine and escalates hybrid attacks against European democracies.

The group urges the European Commission to strengthen the implementation of existing visa rules, to harmonize practices across Schengen states and to introduce targeted restrictions against individuals linked to the Russian regime, military structures, secret services or state propaganda activities. Renew Europe also urged the Justice and Home Affairs Council to quickly adopt a common European approach and ensure that the new measures are in place before the peak summer tourist season.