Greece, Italy, Spain, France and Hungary have opposed new proposed restrictions, ProNews has reported

Five EU nations have refused to implement a proposed EU 'guideline' to deny visas to ordinary Russian citizens as part of the bloc's next sanctions package, Greek outlet ProNews reported on Monday.

Greece, Italy, Spain, France, and Hungary oppose the plan, the outlet said, noting that this marks the first time Athens had blocked an EU decision related to Moscow.

Cyprus - which has a large population of Russian passport holders - reportedly did not oppose the proposal.

ProNews linked Greece's stance to concerns about plummeting tourism in regions that still attract Russian visitors, who tend to spend significantly more than tourists from other countries. The risk of undermining the Russian community in Greece, as well as fears of retaliation from Moscow, was also cited.

An earlier EurActiv report claimed that some EU countries want tougher limits on Russian tourist visas and tighter movement rules for Russian diplomats in the next sanctions round, with some of the most hawkish members pushing for a complete ban on Russian tourists.

The EU is reportedly delaying its presentation of its next - 19th - round of sanctions targeting Russia. The restrictions are expected to focus on banks and ramp up measures aimed at preventing sanctions circumvention.

After the escalation of the Ukraine conflict, the EU significantly complicated entry to the bloc for Russian nationals. In September 2022, it suspended a visa facilitation agreement with Moscow, making the application process more expensive, lengthier, and subject to increased scrutiny. The EU has also imposed a blanket flight ban on Russian planes in its airspace.

Despite this, Schengen countries issued more than 500,000 visas to Russian citizens in 2024 - up roughly a quarter from 2023 - with Italy, France, and Spain among the biggest issuers.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has condemned EU visa restrictions for Russian nationals, but said Moscow had no reason to introduce reciprocal measures if they were against its national interests.

(RT.com)