Check against delivery! 

During this informal meeting – yesterday and today – we have been exchanging views about an important number of aspects related to the Russian aggression against Ukraine, our support to Ukraine and also our partnership with Africa.  

But let me start with the main issue – maybe the most concrete issue - that we have been discussing. 
Since the middle of July, we have seen a substantial increase of border crossings from Russia into the neighbouring [EU Member] States. This has become a security risk for these neighbouring [EU Member] States. In addition to that, we have seen many Russians travelling for leisure and shopping, as if no war was raging in Ukraine. 

Member States considered that we are not “business as usual”. It cannot be “business as usual”. I want to remind you that there are already bans for specific individuals supporting Putin’s regime. But we consider that more has to be done. 

Therefore, we agreed politically – this is not a legal text, but it is a political agreement - we agreed that [something] has to be done. And therefore, let me try to summarise in concrete terms what we politically agreed on: 

First, [the] full suspension of the European Union-Russia Visa Facilitation Agreement. Full suspension. Until now, it was partially suspended for special collectives, groups of people – officials, entrepreneurs – and now it is fully suspended.

It means that it will significantly reduce the number of new visas issued by the EU Member States. [The process] is going to be more difficult, it is going to be longer. And consequently, the number of new visas will be substantially reduced. This is a common approach, and a common approach will prevent a potential “visa shopping” by Russians – going here and there, trying to look for the better conditions. 

Second, there is a common understanding that this will allow for visas to be granted on an individual basis [after] a thorough assessment of each individual case, and especially for specific groups of people. We do not want to cut ourselves from those Russians who are against the war in Ukraine. We do not want to cut ourselves from the Russian civil society. 

Third, we agreed that passports issued by the Russian authorities in occupied territories of Ukraine will not be recognised. 

Fourth, during the debate, which was a long and constructive debate, some concerns have been raised, not on the flow of new visas being granted, but about the stock [of visas], about the millions of existing visas. There was a common understanding that this also has to be addressed and this situation needs also a common approach. 

This is why, we agreed to invite the [European] Commission to look into this complex situation and provide guidelines. 

Fifth, the situation in the bordering countries is becoming challenging and we acknowledged that these countries can take measures at national level, to restrict entry into the European Union through their borders, always in conformity with the European Union Schengen Border Code.  

And finally, [as] this is a complex situation because we talk about the flow, we talk about the stock of existing visas, we have to continue coordinating the implementation of this common approach. 

We also exchanged on the wider context of the war in Ukraine. We agreed that we have to be prepared to face the negative consequences of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine that, unhappily, it seems that it is not going to end anytime soon.  

We have said it before many times, and I want to repeat it: this war is not only about Russia and Ukraine. This war is about the security and stability of the European continent as a whole and, more than that, it has a wider repercussion all around the world.  

We discussed about, for example, the catastrophic impact that this war could have if Russia continues gambling around Ukrainian nuclear power plants, especially in Zaporizhzhia. We discussed about the political, military, economic and humanitarian support to Ukraine. And we insisted that we remain united in our response to Russia’s war and its malign global behaviour.  

The [Foreign Affairs] Ministers were informed about the debate of the Defence Ministers and we agreed on accelerating [the] work on the parameters for a European Union Military Assistance [Mission] for Ukraine, in order to make the decision about this issue as soon as possible. 

We also agreed on accelerating the work on the sustainability of the European Peace Facility (EPF), in order to be able to respond better [to] the evolving needs of the Ukrainian army. 

And then, we discussed about Africa – this was a different issue, but not so different because the war is affecting very much many African countries.  

Europe is the first partner on trade, investment and development [and] on peace and security [of the African continent]. And we have to coordinate our initiatives in order to work with the African partners, because as I said, the war in Ukraine and the fact that Russia is using food and energy as geopolitical weapons, [and Russian] interference and disinformation and activities of mercenary groups, is a matter of concern. 

Finally, we had an informal lunch with the Foreign Ministers of Ukraine [Dmytro Kuleba], the Republic of Moldova [Nicu Popescu] and Georgia [Ilia Darchiashvili] – what we call “the Associated Trio”.  

We discussed the situation on the ground. We discussed about the Eastern Partnership policy, which remains an important additional tool for all our Eastern partners to reinforce integration and cooperation with the European Union. 

Thank you. 

Q&A

Q. [in Czech] On the visa issue, is there unity only on the basis of what you [High Representative Josep Borrell] said? So, there will no longer be Visa Facilitation. Is there any unity about harsher measures, tougher measures? How can we really restrict the issuing of visas for Russian citizens? And what about national solutions?

The Member States, in accordance with our rules, have a wide possibility of regulating the process of visa delivering and border control. So, as far as they fulfil [their obligations] in accordance with the Schengen Visa Code, there is a wide range of possibilities for them. And, according to the different situations, each Member State – and that is what I said -, we agreed that Member States can take national measures on the process of delivering visas, national measures on the crossing-border process, always – as it could not be otherwise - in accordance with the Schengen Code. But they have a lot of possibilities and each one will be able to implement them. 

Q. On the visa issues, going forward what can potentially be the next step? For example, could it be a stop of multi-entry visas to Schengen? What is the next step in between Visa Facilitation cancellation and a full visa ban? On Iran and the JCPOA, you have now received the answers from Iran and from United States. Can you update us what the next step is now to reach a full agreement? 

You know, it [has been] more than three weeks that I shared a draft text as Coordinator [of the JCPOA negotiations] to the partners in order to conclude the Vienna talks. I got feedback from all delegations. I got comments from Iran and the United States, which both I found reasonable. And to me, it is clear, that there is a common ground, that we have an agreement that takes into account – I think – everyone's concerns. And I am hoping that in the coming days, we are not going to lose this momentum and we can close the deal, taking into account these reasonable comments that both parties – Iran and the US – have been presenting on my text. 

[On] the other question, you know, I have to repeat the same thing. The Visa Facilitation Agreement facilitates. This will be cancelled so no more facilitation. I am not playing with the words, but it is a Visa Facilitation [which] is done [in order] to facilitate. If it is finished, there is no more facilitation. So, the visas will be more difficult to get. It will still be possible to get visas, but in a more reduced number. This is with respect to the new visas. 

With respect to the border control, the border crossing, certainly, you need a visa. But a visa, in certain circumstances, may not be enough. And the Member States have the possibility of controlling the border control, controlling the border passing. And this is up to them, according to their national competences, in the framework of the Schengen Visa Code. So, what is going to happen? [What] is going to happen [is that] the process of delivering visas will be a different one, much [more] restricted. And the process of border crossing will be, as always, under the control of the Member State that can decide to take measures in order to face the challenging situation that they consider in the framework of the Schengen Code - nothing more, nothing less. 

 
Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-229224