BRUSSELS, October 11. /TASS/. The European Commission is preparing a plan to tighten Schengen visa issuance for Russians starting in January 2027, citing certain Russian "hybrid threats," Politico reported.

According to the newspaper, the European Commission intends to propose "tighter visa rules for hundreds of thousands of Russians who visit EU countries as tourists each year." Politico pointed out, citing its sources, that Brussels is thus attempting, in particular, to prevent 650,000 veterans of the special military operation from entering the EU.

The newspaper noted Sweden, Poland, and Estonia actively support these restrictions, stating that Russian tourists pose a hybrid threat to the European defense industry, which produces weapons for Ukraine.

The specifics of the restrictions have not yet been disclosed.

EU visa policy is not within the European Commission’s jurisdiction; it remains a priority for the bloc’s member states. The European Commission can only issue recommendations on changing visa issuance rules. For this decision to become binding on all EU countries, it must be approved by all member states in the EU Council at the interior minister level.

Despite the restrictions, according to Eurostat data, the number of Schengen visas issued to Russians increased by 10.2% in 2025 compared to 2024, reaching 620,000. Of these, 478,000 were tourist visas, and the remainder were issued for family reunification and other travel purposes.