The European Commission wants to ban the entry of Russian fighters into the EU, but the measure depends on the unanimity of the member states.

The proposal to ban the entry of Russian fighters into the European Union is part of the 21st sanctions package, confirms the European Commission. The measure is being discussed in the Council and must be approved unanimously by the member states, while the European executive says it is not currently preparing a separate amendment to the visa rules to turn the ban into a permanent measure.

The European Commission wants individuals who fought on the side of Russia against Ukraine to no longer be able to enter the European Union, but the proposal remains dependent on the agreement of all member states. The measure is included in the 21st sanctions package and is being discussed in the Council, where EU sanctions must be adopted unanimously.

In short The European Commission confirms that the 21st sanctions package includes a proposal to ban entry into the EU for Russian fighters. The measure has not yet been adopted and must be approved unanimously by the member states in the Council. The Commission does not publicly detail the content of the package before adoption, but says it will organize a technical briefing after a decision is made. A ban through sanctions would be different from an amendment to the visa rules, which would create a more structural and permanent solution. The European executive says it is currently focused on adopting the proposal from the sanctions package, not on a separate reform of the visa regime.

The proposal targets a sensitive category of individuals: Russian fighters or former Russian fighters who participated in the war against Ukraine. The political idea is that individuals who fought against Ukraine and, by extension, against European security, should not be able to benefit from access to the space of the European Union.

The Commission confirms that this ban is included in the 21st sanctions package, but does not present additional details before formal adoption. The package is being negotiated among the member states, and each element can be discussed, modified, or blocked until unanimity is achieved.

The rule of unanimity is decisive. Unlike other areas of European policy, sanctions against Russia must be approved by all member states. If a state opposes or requests modifications, the package cannot be adopted in the proposed form.

The Commission says it submits proposals after preliminary consultations with member states and with the confidence that they can gain political support. At the same time, the European executive avoids anticipating the outcome of the negotiations in the Council.

The institution promises a technical briefing after the adoption of the package, to explain what it contains and how the measures will work. This stage is important because entry bans must be enforced by national authorities, including at the border and in visa systems.

The discussion also has a broader dimension: whether the ban should remain a temporary sanction or be introduced into the EU's permanent visa rules. Some states, especially those closer to Russia, want a more sustainable solution for individuals who have demonstrated hostility towards Ukraine and Europe by participating in the war.

However, the Commission separates the two plans. A ban included in a sanctions package is part of the restrictive regime against Russia and must be renewed according to the applicable sanctions rules. An amendment to the visa legislation would be a different instrument, with a more structural effect on the conditions of entry into the EU.

For the moment, the European executive does not announce a proposal to amend the visa rules. The Commission's line is that the immediate priority is the adoption of the measure from the sanctions package, not the opening of a separate reform of the visa regime.

The measure would have a direct impact on how the EU treats individuals involved militarily on the side of Russia. It would extend European pressure beyond classic economic, financial, or individual sanctions and would introduce a barrier to entry for Russian fighters.

For member states, implementing such a ban will require clear criteria: who falls into the category of Russian fighter, what evidence is used, how the identity of individuals is verified, and how decisions are coordinated among national authorities. These details have not yet been publicly presented by the Commission.

The 21st sanctions package thus remains under negotiation. The measure regarding Russian fighters is politically confirmed, but its concrete effect depends on the agreement of the member states and the final form of the text adopted in the Council.

The exchange of positions took place during the European Commission's briefing on the 21st sanctions package and the proposal to ban entry into the EU for Russian fighters.

https://2eu.brussels/ro/news/comisia-europeana-vrea-sa-interzica-intrarea-in-ue-pentru-combatantii-rusi-dar-masura-depinde-de-unanimitatea-statelor-membre