Visa-Free Regime Between Russia And Greece In The Cards

During its EU Presidency in the first half of 2014, Greece will promote a waiver of the visa obligation for Russian nationals that have a biometric passport, Public Order and Citizen Protection Minister Nikos Dendias said on Monday, 17 December, during his visit in Moscow.

For the past years, Russia has become a target market for Greek tourism and the visa issue is considered the main obstacle for a major increase in arrivals to Greece.

However, according to RIA Novosti news agency, the visa issue may no longer be a problem as Russia and Greece today, 18 December, signed a protocol to the EU-Russia Readmission Agreement, which is a key step in the establishment of a visa free regime between the EU and Russia.

Under the Readmission Agreement, signed in 2007, Russia will readmit, upon application by a European Union (EU) country, “any person not, or no longer, fulfilling the conditions in force for entry or residence, provided that it is established that the person concerned is a Russian national.”

According to data, arrivals from Russia to Greece are expected to exceed one million this year.