EU Suspends Simplified Visa Agreement with Russia

The Council of the European Union has approved the decision to suspend the visa facilitation agreement with Russia, according to a statement on the EU legislative body's website.

The decision will take effect from September 12. "This will result in an increase in the visa fee from 35 euros to 80 euros, the necessity to provide additional documents, longer processing times for visa applications, and stricter rules for issuing multiple-entry visas," the report states.