Brussels, 18/09/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the European Commission adopted a communication proposing measures to facilitate the transit of people and goods between the enclave of Kaliningrad and the rest of the Russian territory following Poland and Lithuania's accession to the EU. These measures only concern Lithuania as it is the country through which in fact most transit to and from Kaliningrad occurs, and as Russia has now agreed to its citizens needing a visa to cross Poland. The Commission proposes establishing a document facilitating transit for people frequently travelling to and from Kaliningrad, crossing Lithuania (a kind of "Kaliningrad passport") and undertakes to give thought to two Russian proposals: one concerns the possibility of having travellers move without visas onboard direct high-speed trains between Kaliningrad and Russia, and the other aims to put an end to the visa regime between the EU and Russia. Romano Prodi, Commission President, considered that this communication was an "effective and flexible response" to the problem of transit, subject of tension between the EU and Russia for months. "I have sent a letter to Mr. Putin explaining the sense of our proposals", Prodi told the press, adding that these proposals "are still not definitive and that technical problems need discussing with Member States, the candidate countries and Russia". For the Russians, the fact of taking account of some of their proposals is positive, but "work must continue between Russia and the EU for a concrete agreement on these two issues to be found, and that it not be a question of simple declarations". The Commission's communication will be discussed at the General Affairs Council of 30 September before being approved by the European Council of Brussels of 24 and 25 October, then to be presented to the Russian authorities in view of an agreement at the EU/Russia Summit of 11 November.
In concrete terms, the Commission proposes a Facilitated Transit Document (FTD) to be issued by the consulates of the candidate countries to Russian citizens frequently and exclusively travelling to and from Kaliningrad. This document, provided free of charge or a reduced price, and renewable, will enable holders to make multiple and direct trips, by car or by train, between the Russian enclave and the rest of the Russian territory, crossing Lithuania and Poland. The Russian authorities will be responsible for issuing a list of citizens for whom their frequent trips to the enclave warrant the holding of such a document, list on which Lithuania will have to decide. "Lithuania retains the sovereign decision over those entering its territory", Mr. Prodi stipulated. Until the end of 2004, the FTD may be accompanied by an internal Russian passport. Thereafter, an international passport will be essential. Currently, 250,000 Kaliningrad citizens have an international passport. Russia has declared that is issues 50,000 a year. According to the Commission, this movement should accelerate by 2005 and the TACIS budget could contribute to its funding. The EU has offered Russia and the two candidate countries its aid in implementing these measures, although no figures are yet available as to cost. For example, the opening of additional consulates will doubtless be essential, whereas there is now only one in Moscow.
Regarding goods, the international conventions on traffic by road and rail to which Russia is party allow for the transit of goods without major bureaucratic obstacles. Furthermore, the partnership agreement between the EU and Russia, which the candidate countries may join following enlargement, guarantees the free passage of goods between Russia and Kaliningrad. "We have proposed measures that take account of all the positions and that are compatible with the Schengen acquis", Mr. Prodi added, guaranteeing that these measures would pose no obstacle to the abolition of internal border controls when Lithuania becomes a member of the EU.
In its proposal, the Commission also undertakes to assess the possibility of having direct high-speed trains link Kaliningrad to the rest of Russia, passing through Lithuania and Belarus. For Russia, this proposal would warrant a visa exemption for travellers, as there would be no intermediary stops or particular surveillance requirements. Currently, while proposing to study the feasibility of that proposal, the Commission considers that the technical and security conditions are not yet met and envisages this possibility only after Lithuania's accession. As for the possibility of putting an end to the visa regime between Russia and the EU, the Commission insisted on the fact that that went hand in hand not only with enhanced co-operation between the two parties in combating organised crime and illegal immigration, but also with the signing of a re-admission agreement between Russia and the EU, on which negotiations have not yet begun.