Brussels, 16/05/2002 (Agence Europe) - The EU definitively ruled out the Russian proposal of creating a corridor through Poland and Lithuania to link Kaliningrad to Russia, at a meeting between senior Commission and Russian officials, in Kaliningrad on Wednesday (see EUROPE of 25 April, p.10). Russia reacted immediately stating that: "our position is as firm as the EU's: we must seek a solution providing for the citizens of Kaliningrad to be able to move to the other part of the Russian territory without permission from other countries". The two sides will meet in Moscow on 29 May, at the Summit between the EU and Russia, to try to reach a compromise on the issue.
At the EU/Russia Co-operation Committee devoted to the consequences of EU enlargement on Kaliningrad, the EU said that, "following enlargement, Community legislation will demand of Russians (and nationals of third countries) transiting by land on EU territory, between Kaliningrad and the rest of Russia, that they be in possession of a valid international passport or a visa". The EU is prepared to grant technical facilities (like long-duration visas or multiple entries) and financial facilities (low cost) to facilitate the issue of visas. Consequently, and to combat cross-border crime and illegal immigration, it calls on Russia: - 1) to allow the opening of consulates in Kaliningrad to facilitate the issue of visas; - 2) to conclude a readmission agreement (obliging Russia to take back onto its territory illegal Russians present on that of the EU. On the Russian side, they consider that "there will be a readmission agreement only in case of an agreement on the modalities of passage between Kaliningrad and Russia; - 3) rapidly ratify the agreement on its borders with Lithuania.
The EU also intends co-operating closely with Russia to ensure the Kaliningrad's economic development. Here, over and above the 40 million euro granted to the Russian enclave up to 2003, the EU pledges to provide it with additional funds to: 1) improve border infrastructures so as to facilitate the movement of goods and passage of people which, currently, last an average of five hours; 2) speed up its economic recovery to put an end to the growing gap between the enclave and its neighbours; 3) tackle trans-national problems such as combating crime, pollution and contagious diseases (Kaliningrad is particularly affected by tuberculosis and AIDS).