Eleven EU and Schengen States Send Joint Letter Demanding Stricter Schengen Entry for Russians

Ministers from eleven EU and Schengen member states sent a joint letter on June 4, 2026 to EU Internal Affairs Commissioner Magnus Brunner and Swedish EU Presidency demanding stricter conditions for Russian nationals to access the Schengen area. The letter was signed by the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Iceland, Norway, and the three Baltic republics (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania). The signatories called for systematic verification of Russian nationals at Schengen external borders, enhanced information-sharing between member states about Russian nationals' past activities and affiliations, and consideration of expanded restrictions beyond the existing partial Schengen visa restrictions. The letter cited ongoing Russian intelligence and disinformation activities across Europe, Russia's continued war against Ukraine, and the risk of sabotage infrastructure attacks by Russian-linked actors — pointing to suspected Russian sabotage incidents targeting Baltic undersea cables, rail lines, and logistics facilities as justification for heightened vigilance.