Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski called on the European Union to tighten restrictions on Russian diplomats and Russian citizens. Proposed measures include limiting the issuance of Schengen visas, introducing biometric passes for Russians and reducing the number of Russian diplomats in EU countries.
This was reported by Politico.
Sikorski made the remarks after a joint meeting with the foreign ministers of Germany and France in Weimar.
“Russia is, after all, trying to destroy the EU from within and should not be allowed to take advantage of the privileges of free movement,” he said.
The Polish foreign minister proposed restricting Russian diplomats’ freedom of movement to the countries where they are accredited, limiting the issuance of Schengen visas to Russian citizens, introducing biometric passes for Russians entering the EU, and capping the number of Russian diplomats in the European Union.
According to Sikorski, more than 2,000 Russian diplomats are currently in EU countries.
“We estimate that at least 40% of them are performing tasks that are incompatible with their diplomatic status. They work for agencies that also carry out terrorist activities in our countries,” he said.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said Paris was ready to support further steps “if circumstances require it.”
Sikorski’s remarks came after the German government blamed Russia for incidents involving explosive-laden drones and announced retaliatory diplomatic measures.
