The Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), part of the country's coalition government led by Chancellor Angela Merkel, has proposed to ease the visa regime with Russia. The corresponding initiative is presented in the draft election program, according to the party's website.
The MPs, in particular, wanted to intensify contacts through civil society and facilitate the visa regime for young people. “With all the necessary criticism, we are betting on readiness for dialogue and cooperation in relation to Russia. Peace in Europe is possible not against, but only with Russia. Intersocial contacts are valuable in relations with Russia, the support and expansion of which we want to continue, ”the document says.
The SPD also drew attention to the need for further cooperation with Moscow in the areas of general security, disarmament and arms control, climate protection, sustainable development, energy and the fight against pandemics. At the same time, the document notes the problems in relations with Russia, in particular, the situation around Crimea and Donbass, the cyberattacks on the German Bundestag attributed to Moscow and the incident with Alexei Navalny.
In February, the Russian Union of Travel Industry (PCT) suggested that in the summer, European countries could start issuing Schengen visas to Russian citizens. “There is no official information yet, the situation depends on medicine, on how the pandemic will proceed in these countries,” said the president of the association, Andrei Ignatiev. Some European countries have long wanted to open their borders and resume flights. Thus, Greece, Hungary and Croatia are already ready to receive Russian tourists, but the final decision depends on the policy of the European Union.
