Lithuania warns rising Schengen visas for Russians pose security threat

Lithuania’s interior minister has warned that the growing number of Schengen visas issued to Russian citizens poses an “unacceptable” security risk, LRT reports, citing a statement from the Ministry of the Interior.

Speaking at the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg, Vladislav Kondratovičius called for urgent reforms to the EU Visa Code, stating: “The continued increase in Schengen visas issued to citizens of the Russian Federation is unacceptable and poses a serious security threat. We strongly support a targeted revision of the Visa Code and await the Commission’s legislative proposal as soon as possible.”

Kondratovičius criticised the European Commission’s annual Schengen report for lacking a broader analysis of strategic security threats, particularly hybrid risks in the EU’s eastern regions—including drone airspace violations, smuggling via balloons, and the weaponisation of migration.

He urged the EU to use both incentives and pressure to push third countries into cooperating on migrant returns. The minister also stressed the need for adequate funding—both at EU and national levels—to implement Schengen priorities, with decisions based on continuously updated threat assessments.

The EU suspended visa facilitation talks with Russia in 2022 and later restricted multi-entry visas for Russians. While issuance dropped from over 4 million before the war to around 500,000 in 2024, stricter member states—including Lithuania, Poland, Norway, and the Baltics—argue current rules remain inconsistent. A group of 12 Schengen countries noted in a letter that over 470,000 tourist visas, many multi-entry, were granted to Russians in 2025 alone. France, Spain, and Italy remain top destinations for Russian travellers.

Ministers in Luxembourg also discussed extending temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees, set to expire in March 2027. Lithuania advocates for a full extension while the war continues, warning that ending protections would create legal and administrative challenges. Kondratovičius further called for transitioning refugees to other legal statuses, such as work permits, while maintaining safeguards for vulnerable groups.