My take on #visa ban discussion:
1) Debate has been too messy, cuz it was not clear what visas for whom were meant. Some voices called to ban all visas for all Russians, also dissidents, which would be a mistake. BUT if we refocus on tourists only, lets talk business (thread):
1) Debate has been too messy, cuz it was not clear what visas for whom were meant. Some voices called to ban all visas for all Russians, also dissidents, which would be a mistake. BUT if we refocus on tourists only, lets talk business (thread):
Summary of the principles I propose (explained later):
- Member states instead of EU
- Toughen and slow down instead of full banning
- EU personal Sanctions: Leave it targeted, make it massive
- Ban tourists, save dissidents. What I mean exactly:
- Member states instead of EU
- Toughen and slow down instead of full banning
- EU personal Sanctions: Leave it targeted, make it massive
- Ban tourists, save dissidents. What I mean exactly:
2) Member states: are free to design their immigration policies as long as refugee option open. Understandable desire of bordering states to Russia to regulate tougher is legit and should be supported. Question is - why do we need a ban, my experience is that...
2) (1) ...European diplomatic staff in Russia is thinned out so procedures are/can be slowed down de facto coming to a halt. There is no right to enjoy Berlin dance clubs while your country is killing another nation! So no necessity to process those applications or do so fast.
3) EU level: sanctions are subject to legal scrutiny. @EUCourtPress requires at least #proportionality of sanctions, that is: 1) a legit goal; 2) suitability of proposed sanction to reach it; 3) no less invasive alternatives...
3) (1) It is questionable what sanction goals would a ban of all citizens serve. How does "not able to walk through Paris" advance stopping aggression and how is same ban for Putin opponents advancing such goal? Those are the questions that will be asked. If the goal is regime...
3) (2) regime change - can this goal be legitimate within EU treaty and how does not walking in Paris advance it; if the goal is to teach all Russians a lesson indiscriminately - I doubt @EUCourtPress would agree that this can be a goal of EU sanctions;
3) (3) Instead EU should drastically expand #personal #sanction lists: Any propaganda, any firing a war opponent from school/work, any prosecutorial plead or judicial ruling against political dissidents should result in listing those responsible. Make it #targetted by #massive
4) Finally: Ban tourists, save dissidents! Make it faster/easier to escape prosecution for stance against war! Most of EU countries still very closed vis-a-vis journalists, oppositionsts who escaped or must escape. Want it or not - they are our only allies in Russia!
4) Thus: a) Member states should/can reduce issuance procedures for their Schengen tourist visas to a minimum; b) increase and expedite issuing humanitarian/refugee options for Putin opponents; c) massively expand personal sanction listings on EU level. END
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