TIWN
Prague, Sep 1 (TIWN) Foreign Ministers of the European Union (EU) member states have agreed to suspend a visa agreement with Moscow, making it harder for Russian citizens to obtain entry to the bloc.
"We agree today with EU foreign ministers on full suspension of the EU-Russia visa facilitation agreement," Xinhua news agency quoted Josep Borrell, the EU's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, as saying at a press conference after the Ministers' two-day informal meeting here on Wednesday.
He said that until now, the 2007 agreement that makes it easier for Russian citizens to obtain Schengen visas, was "partially suspended" for special collectives and groups of Russ, officials and entrepreneurs, but now it is "fully suspended".
"It means that it will significantly reduce the number of new visas issued by the EU member states," Borrell said, adding that the process to get a visa is going to be "longer and more difficult."
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