Germany urges EU to cut Russians' holiday visas after sabotage attacks

Germany has called on the European Union to restrict holiday visas for Russian citizens following a series of sabotage attacks, according to the Guardian. The appeal comes after a Belarusian national, said to have been travelling on a tourist visa issued by Italy, was investigated over an alleged attempt to attack Leipzig airport.

The case has reignited a long-running debate within the bloc over the Schengen Area's shared visa regime, where a document issued by one member state grants access to all. Italy's role in the affair places the country at the centre of a security dispute that reaches far beyond its borders.

For the Veneto region, the implications are tangible. Venice, whose economy depends heavily on tourism, has in recent years courted Russian visitors even as European sanctions tightened. The airport at Venice Marco Polo is a key Schengen entry point, and any tightening of visa rules would be felt in the city's hotels and restaurants.

The Guardian reported that the suspect in the Leipzig case was a Belarusian national who had obtained a tourist visa from Italian authorities. German officials have seized on the case as evidence that the current visa regime is too lax, arguing that holiday visas should not be available to citizens of countries linked to hostile activities against EU member states.

The proposal is likely to meet resistance from some EU members, including Italy, which has historically favoured maintaining ties with Russian tourists as a source of revenue. The Guardian noted that Germany's push comes amid heightened concern over Russian sabotage operations across Europe, including attacks on infrastructure and alleged plots against individuals.

In Venice, the debate touches on a delicate balance. The city has struggled with over-tourism for years, and the loss of Russian visitors — once a significant share of high-spending tourists — would be a blow to luxury hotels and high-end shops. Yet the security dimension is hard to ignore, and local authorities have previously cooperated with national security services on matters of public safety.

The Schengen system, which allows visa-free movement across most of the EU, has long been a point of tension between member states. Germany's call for restrictions on Russian holiday visas would require a coordinated EU response, and any decision is likely to take months. In the meantime, the Guardian reported, the investigation into the Leipzig plot continues, with German prosecutors examining the suspect's travel history.

For the Veneto bureau, the story underscores how international security concerns can ripple into local economies. Venice's tourism industry has only recently recovered from the pandemic and the loss of other markets, and any disruption to visitor flows would compound existing pressures. The city's dependence on a single sector makes it vulnerable to geopolitical shifts beyond its control.