Brussels, 15/12/2011 (Agence Europe) - Russia and the European Union have officially launched “Common Steps towards visa-free travel”. Both sides will have to put in place a number of measures, such as the introduction of biometric passports, tackling illegal immigration and border management, public order, judicial cooperation and addressing security issues, to prepare for removing the need for visas for short-term stays. “In order to achieve real progress, the task ahead of us is to fully implement the agreed common steps which can lead to the opening of visa-waiver negotiations”, stated European Commission President José Manuel Barroso at the EU-Russia summit press conference on Thursday 15 December. “Our common goal is to have a visa-free regime between Russia and the European Union”, he added. Russian President Dmitri Medvedev said that he hoped it would be possible very quickly to remove the need for visas. (CG/transl.rt)