Russia is ready to abolish visas with the European Union, Vladimir Putin said at a meeting of ambassadors and permanent representatives in the Russian Foreign Ministry.
The EU is also gradually preparing to abolish the visa regime with Russia. For example, Germany is going to provide support to Russia in this matter. A year ago German Chancellor Angela Merkel admitted that Berlin had hampered mutual removal of visa barriers between Russia and the European Union. But now, according to her, Germany intends to offer concrete proposals for the abolition of visas during the next year. As well Ulrich Brandenburg, German Ambassador to Russia, has stated that it would be easier to get a visa for the Russians at the German Consulate.
While the abolition of visas between Russia and the EU has not happened, the European countries themselves offer some visa concessions to attract Russian tourists. For example, Croatia and Montenegro, and most recently Albania and Macedonia allow our tourists travel to these countries without a visa in the summer season.
Spain can not abolish visas for Russians, because it is a party to the Schengen Agreement. Nevertheless, for several years this country has been attracting tourists from Russia by issuing six-month multiple Schengen visas. According to tour operators, such simplification of visa regime has a beneficial effect on tourist flow, so the number of tourists from Russia to Spain is rapidly growing by 30-40% every year.
Another visa experiment was launched in Greece recently. From July 7 to September 30, 2012 Greece opens its borders for Russian tourists vacationing in Turkey.
