European Council to set common approach on non-acceptance of travel documents issued in occupied regions of Ukraine, Georgia
The decision a response to Russia’s “unprovoked and unjustified” military aggression against Ukraine and its practice of issuing Russian international passports to residents of occupied regions. Photo: Reuters
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European Union ambassadors on Wednesday agreed a mandate for negotiations with the European Parliament on a decision on non-acceptance of Russian travel documents issued in the Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine and Georgia.
The decision a response to Russia’s “unprovoked and unjustified” military aggression against Ukraine and its practice of issuing Russian international passports to residents of occupied regions, the European Council said.
It will mean that Russian travel documents issued in, or to persons resident in, the Russian-occupied regions of the two countries will not be accepted as valid travel documents for obtaining a visa or crossing the borders of the Schengen area.
With its illegal annexation of Ukrainian regions Russia has once again shown its blatant disregard for the rules-based international order. We will never recognise the violation of Ukraine and Georgia’s fundamental rights to independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. The EU stands united and resolutely with both countries and their people”, Vít Rakušan, Czech minister of the interior, said in comments on the move.
The decision also follows Russia’s unilateral decision to recognise the independence of the Georgian territories of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) in 2008.
Russian travel documents issued in these regions are already not recognised, or in the process of not being recognised, by EU member states. The new decision aims to set out a common approach, ensure the proper functioning of the external border and common visa policies and safeguard the security of EU member states.
The situation created by the armed conflict taking place in Ukraine, the ongoing occupation of Georgian regions, and release of Georgian citizens illegally arrested by occupation forces were discussed on Tuesday in a meeting between Grigol Liluashvili, the Head of the State Security Service (SSS) of Georgia, and Toivo Klaar, the European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the Crisis in Georgia.
The European Parliament has reaffirmed its support for Georgia's Euro-Atlantic aspirations in resolutions on the implementation of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP).
A six-member delegation of the European Parliament, on a visit to Georgia, on Thursday observed the consequences of the Russian aggression in the country by visiting the occupation line near the central Georgian village of Odzisi.
The European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) in Georgia is marking 13 years since its establishment. EUMM was established after the Russia-Georgia 2008 war to monitor the EU-brokered ceasefire 6-Point agreement between the countries, but the mission has no access to the occupied territories of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia).
The European Parliament on Thursday agreed not to accept travel documents that Russia has issued in the areas it illegally occupies in Ukraine and Georgia, the press office of the EU legislative body said.
The European Council and European Parliament on Thursday reached a provisional agreement on non-acceptance of Russian travel documents issued in the occupied territories of Ukraine and Georgia.
The Council of the European Union on Thursday adopted a decision on non-acceptance of Russian travel documents issued in the Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine and Georgia.