MEPs to vote on not accepting Russian passports from occupied regions
On Thursday, the European Parliament is set to confirm that EU member states will not accept passports issued by Russia in illegally-occupied areas of Georgia and Ukraine.
Last week, Parliament and Council reached an agreement on a draft law creating harmonised rules for not accepting passports and other travel documents that Russia has issued to citizens in regions and territories it illegally occupies in Ukraine, and in the so-called breakaway territories in Georgia.
The new legislation aims to ensure that travel documents from these areas are treated consistently in different EU member states. However, MEPs stress that it will not impact anyone’s right to seek international protection if they are fleeing the conflict in Ukraine.
Background
Russia has been issuing passports to residents of Crimea since it illegally annexed the Crimean peninsula in 2014, and it is currently doing so in other non-government-controlled areas of Ukraine. The non-recognition of these Russian passports would apply when someone requests a visa to enter the EU or when they cross the EU’s external borders. According to the Commission, almost all member states have already stated that they do not accept Russian passports issued in occupied foreign regions.
Vote: Thursday 24 November
Procedure: Ordinary legislative procedure, first reading agreement (urgency procedure)