Germany urges EU to curb Russian tourist visas after sabotage fears

Germany is urging its European partners to introduce tighter limits on Russian citizens entering the EU on tourist visas, following a series of suspected sabotage attacks, according to the Guardian. Berlin's push comes after a Belarusian national, reportedly holding a tourist visa issued by Italy, was investigated over an alleged attempt to attack Leipzig airport.

The case has placed Italy at the centre of a European security debate about the bloc's visa regime. Foreign-press reports indicate that German authorities are concerned that tourist visas, including those issued by Schengen members such as Italy, are being exploited by individuals linked to hostile activities.

The Guardian reported that Germany is seeking a coordinated EU response, arguing that the current rules allowing Russians to travel for leisure present a security risk. The proposal would mark a significant shift in the bloc's approach to Russian citizens, which has remained more permissive on tourism than on other forms of engagement since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The German initiative reflects a broader European reassessment of visa policies toward Russian nationals. According to the Guardian, Berlin has been pressing its EU partners to adopt a common stance, though member states have differed on how far to go in restricting ordinary Russians' ability to travel in Europe. The Baltic states and Poland have long advocated for severe restrictions, while other nations, including Italy, have maintained a more open approach, partly reflecting significant Russian tourist flows and diaspora ties.

The Leipzig airport case has sharpened the debate. The Guardian reported that the suspect, a Belarusian national, was found to have been issued a tourist visa by Italy, raising questions about how Schengen states vet applicants. Italian authorities have not commented publicly, but the case has drawn attention to the country's role as a gateway for Russian and Belarusian travellers into the Schengen area.

For Italy, the stakes are notably high. The country has been a major destination for Russian tourists, particularly in cities like Venice, Florence and Rome, as well as coastal resorts. The Guardian's reporting suggests that any EU-wide restriction could have economic consequences for the Italian tourism sector, which has only partially recovered from the pandemic-era downturn and the earlier loss of Russian visitors following the invasion of Ukraine.

The diplomatic push comes as the EU has already suspended a visa facilitation agreement with Russia, making applications more cumbersome and expensive. However, tourist visas remain available, and Germany's proposal would go further by effectively banning leisure travel for Russian citizens across the bloc. The Guardian noted that Berlin's position has hardened following a series of incidents it attributes to Russian-linked sabotage, including an earlier reported plot that led to the arrest of two German-Russian nationals.

EU member states are expected to discuss the matter in the coming weeks, though consensus is far from assured. The Guardian reported that some governments remain reluctant to impose blanket restrictions, citing legal concerns and the difficulty of distinguishing between ordinary travellers and security threats. The outcome will be closely watched in Rome, where officials must balance security cooperation with Berlin against the preferences of a tourism-dependent economy and a government that has sought to maintain channels of communication with Moscow even as it backs Kyiv militarily.