Taro: Over one million individuals need to be added to the Schengen blacklist

TALLINN – The European Union's attempts to restrict the issuance of tourist visas to Russian citizens are not hopeless, even though some member states continue to grant them, said Minister of the Interior Igor Taro (Eesti 200), adding that Estonia's consistent pressure has led to a shift in both the rhetoric of member states and the stance of the European Commission.

"I wouldn't want to say it's hopeless, because otherwise there would be no point in doing anything," Taro said on the Kuku radio program "Sihik," commenting on a discussion held a week ago in Dublin at a meeting of EU interior ministers.

According to him, Estonia ceased issuing tourist visas to Russian citizens immediately after Russia launched its full-scale aggression in Ukraine and also denies entry to Russian citizens who hold tourist visas issued by any other Schengen country.

"Estonia does not let them in: they are formally denied entry and sent back," the minister said, adding that this policy applies at both land borders and airports.

Taro emphasized that Estonia's position has been clear from the start. "You cannot come to enjoy the Tallinn Christmas market while your country is bombing Ukraine."

ESTONIA PRESSURES THE EU

The minister noted that Estonia has consistently raised the visa issue at meetings of EU interior ministers. He said it was concerning that according to last year's Schengen barometer, nearly half a million visas were issued to Russian citizens in eight months, and the trend was increasing.

"I said that this is completely unacceptable," Taro recalled. He explained that Estonia's criticism initially met with resistance from countries that issue the most visas, but their tone has since changed. "Their rhetoric has changed somewhat. It has become more apologetic; they claim that they are, in fact, conducting individual risk assessments," the minister said.

However, he stressed that the problem has not gone away. "Ukrainians are dying every day, and you are letting Russian citizens travel just for fun, because the Kremlin's goal is to show that nothing significant has happened."

ESTONIA WANTS TO EXPAND THE BLACKLIST

According to Taro, there is a general consensus within the European Union that visas should not be issued to military personnel involved in Russia's aggression.

"I have not yet heard a representative of any country say that this is not the right thing to do," he said. According to the minister, the discussion is primarily about which legal solution would be most suitable for different countries.

Estonia's solution, Taro said, is to place individuals associated with the aggression on the Schengen blacklist. He noted that Estonia has already added thousands of names, with support expressed by Latvia, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Finland, Sweden, and Poland.

"We can add hundreds to the list with a single signature," the minister said, explaining that in some countries, adding each name requires a separate ministerial decision.

In his view, the actual task is much larger. "We really don't need to add thousands to the list, but hundreds of thousands. In fact, there are over a million of them."