EditEU states edge towards deal to curb Russian diplomat movements
The measure would force Russian diplomats stationed in an EU member state to notify another member state if they wanted to travel there
European Union countries are moving towards a deal to curb the movement of Russian diplomats within the bloc, but no formal agreement has been reached yet, EU diplomats told Reuters on Tuesday (7 October).
The measure, proposed by the bloc’s diplomatic service, would force Russian diplomats stationed in an EU member state to notify another member state if they wanted to travel there. That would give governments the option of barring them from entering.
Currently Russian diplomats stationed in an EU country take advantage of the Schengen border-free zone to travel across the 27 members of the zone.
Diplomats said the proposal had garnered broad support but it would only be clear if an agreement could be reached when member states’ ambassadors to the EU meet later this week.
“Things are going quite well. But it’s not a done deal yet,” one EU diplomat said on condition of anonymity regarding the confidential discussions.
The EU’s External Action Service last month added the proposed restriction to a 19th package of sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine.
Countries are still negotiating the overall package, which includes bringing forward an import ban on Russian liquefied natural gas imports by a year.
The negotiations have been complicated by demands from Austria to unfreeze some Russian assets as compensation for penalties that its bank Raiffeisen faces in Russia.
EU edges closer to new visa suspension rules
The European Peoples’ Party (EPP) group, the largest political group in the European Parliament, issued on Tuesday a statement calling for support of changes to the Visa Suspension Mechanism, giving the EU new powers to suspend visa-free travel when Europe’s security is at risk.
For the first time, hybrid threats and citizenship-for-sale schemes are added as grounds for not allowing visa-free travelling – alongside irregular migration and security risks.
The new rules would make it easier to suspend visa liberalization for third-country nationals traveling into the bloc, a measure aimed in large part at Georgia amid signs Tbilisi is drifting away from democratic reforms and back toward Moscow’s sphere of influence.
EU rejects Georgian government’s claims of meddling amid protest crackdown
The parliamentary vote is expected later on Tuesday. EU member states are expected to follow suit on 17 November with the new rules set to enter into force in December.
With Reuters, RFE/RL and EPP press release
Caption: Border control by a Frontex officer [EPP website]
Updated: October 7, 2025 - 15:08
