Russia in favour of visa-free short-term travel
Russia emphasised the importance of intruduction of short-term visa-free travel during the 28th EU-Russia summit in Brussels.
- photo by The Council of the European Union
The 28th EU-Russia summit of 15 December 2011 was organised with a title “to improve citizen’s mobility”. Before the summit, Jose Manuel Barroso said he expects the approval and launch of the implementation of the ‘Common Steps towards visa-free travel’ thus demonstrating EU’s wish to deepen and foster ties with Russia on all levels.
During the summit European leaders addressed, among others, the issue of recent election in Russia.
In addition, a plan of action was launched to prepare for the visa waiver for short-term travels. Russia has been insisting on introducing such a measure for some time. The programme consists of technical actions such as ensuring document security (including biometric passports) , fighting illegal migration, border control management, judicial cooperation and fight against organised crime. Moreover, a new agreement on visa facilitation is to be concluded in January. Its provisions would allow a greater number of citizens to benefit from visa facilitations.
In his remarks after the summit Herman Van Rompuy said that “approving the common steps, and amendments on the visa-waiver agreementsis an important step further to visa free travel, and opens up for more people-to-people contacts. This will further open up Russia to the EU and the EU to Russia”.
Decisions of the summit come only few days after the signature of the agreement between Poland and Russia on visa-free small border traffic with Kaliningrad District, which Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described as possible first step to visa-free regime with the entire European Union.
Source: Gazeta Wyborcza, European Council
