Joint answer given by Vice-President Mogherini on behalf of the Commission
Written questions: E-006845/16 , E-008692/16

13.1.2017

The Commission and the High Representative are well aware of the ongoing restrictions to crossing the border between Belarus and the Russian Federation. EU citizens, as well as citizens from other countries, are being forced to take long detours through neighbouring countries in order to enter Russian territory when coming from Belarus. It is difficult to understand how these restrictions are working in practice, as Russian border controls are done randomly and without customs control and the penalties imposed for crossing the border have been different.

The issue has been discussed by the EU Delegation and Member States' Embassies in Moscow. EU and Member State representatives have on several occasions raised the issue with the Russian authorities, who claim that they are trying to find a solution for the current problems, while at the same time justifying the restrictions by the existence of the State Union between Belarus and Russia. The EU considers, however, that the removal of border controls between two countries as part of the State Union is intended to facilitate circulation and not to hinder it.

The EU will continue raising this issue with the Russian authorities until a satisfactory solution allowing EU citizens to cross the land border between Belarus and the Russian Federation is found.