Migration Minister Johan Forssell (M) is clearly irritated by the influx of tourists.
"We want to stop half a million Russian tourists coming and having beach parties and shopping weekends in Europe while Ukrainians die on the battlefield. It's crazy that it looks like this," says Forssell on his way to Thursday's EU meeting in Luxembourg.
He is carrying a letter to his colleagues, already signed by interior and foreign ministers from nine EU countries as well as Iceland and Norway.
The influx of tourists is also criticized from a security perspective.
"We know the Russians are using every loophole available to do very harmful things, including against Sweden," says Forssell.
Most to France
Exact figures showing how many people receive visas to each EU country exist, but have not been published due to resistance, especially from the major tourist countries that account for a vast majority of admissions.
Nevertheless, bar charts TT and others have had access to are revealing. Of the total of 630,000 Russian visas approved last year, France accounts for over 170,000, Italy for almost 160,000 and Spain for just under 100,000. Of all the other countries, only Greece comes in at more than 40,000 a year.
Sweden is now pushing for a more coordinated approach.
"What is needed is a way to say no to Russian tourists simply because they are Russian," says Forssell.
Do you drink red wine?
The tourist entry is defended in some quarters.
"When the Russians come to Europe, they get a little sense of what Europe is," an anonymous diplomat from an EU country tells Politico Europe.
But Forssell doesn't buy that.
"This is about the same Russians who support Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine not being able to come to Europe and relax on the beaches or sit and drink red wine in cozy outdoor cafes. Then, of course, exceptions can be made for oppositionists," says the Minister of Migration.
Facts: Russian visas to Schengen
In 2025, the countries of the Schengen area - which includes all EU countries except Ireland and Cyprus - approved a total of 477,878 tourist visas to Russian citizens. This is an increase of almost ten percent compared to 2024 - and almost 40 percent compared to the first full year of the war in 2023.
If you include all types of visas - for example, for medical reasons, study or family visits - the total is 631,960 in 2025, ten percent more than the previous year.
Source: EU Council of Ministers.
