Russian diplomats in European capitals should face strict travel controls as a prophylactic against subversive activities, the EU foreign service has said.
Under the proposed new rules, if a Russian diplomat based in Brussels, for instance, wanted to drive via Luxembourg to The Hague, he or she would first need to notify Luxembourgish and Dutch authorities “at least 24 hours” before crossing their borders.
They would also need to stipulate “the make, type, and licence plate number” of their car, as well as the intended border-crossing points and dates of entry and departure, according to a two-page EU foreign service proposal seen by EUobserver.
If a Russian diplomat wanted to fly, or go by train or bus, they would need to give “the name of the carrier and the route code or equivalent”.
But if any EU state was “willing to do so”, they would be free to “prohibit or impose an authorisation requirement on the travel or transit through its territory,” of their Russian applicant.
And the proposed rules did not oblige prohibitors to say why not.
The draft regime was discussed by EU ambassadors in Brussels last Friday.
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Andrew Rettman