Brussels, 24/04/2007 (Agence Europe) - The European Union and Russia may soon begin preparatory talks with a view to the long-term establishment of a system allowing their nationals to travel to and fro their countries without visas. This is the subject of the compromise reached in Moscow by the EU and Russia on Tuesday after a two-day ministerial meeting in the field of justice and home affairs. In practice, the permanent EU-Russia Partnership Council has “agreed to establish the dialogue aimed at examining the conditions for mutual visa-free travel between Russia and the EU as a long-term perspective”, states a joint press release. Although the date for the start of discussions has not yet been set, some European sources believe they should kick off “within the next few weeks”. Franco Frattini, Justice and Home Affairs Commissioner, said that the discussions may not only mean that citizens will have the right to travel but also to work. In any case, discussions with Russia on a visa waiver regime should be “as broad as possible”, he added during a press conference. This very first step towards lifting visas between Russia and the Union comes as a visa facilitation agreement between the two parties, and is to take effect on 1 June this year (EUROPE 9411). “The full implementation of this system will be a test-case for the visa-free regime”, said Frattini, highlighting three areas likely to facilitate a forthcoming visa waiver: re-entry of illegal immigrants, improved controls on identity papers and a better exchange of information on terrorism and organised crime.
In the meantime, the European Police Office (Europol) and Russia have reached an agreement with a view to enhancing their cooperation against terrorism and the illegal drug trade. “One can therefore welcome the proposal to strengthen cooperation in the context of the agreement between Europol and Russia”, Federal Interior Minister Wolfgang Schäuble said on behalf of the presidency. In fact, Russia and the EU have agreed that the joint training programme for personnel entrusted with counter-terrorism and combating drug trafficking should be based on the European Police College (CEPOL), said Russian Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev, according to the Interfax agency. He added that Europol experts will be in Moscow in May to negotiate the final text of the agreement. Germany's Federal Justice Minister Brigitte Zypries also met her Russian counterpart, Vladimir Ustinov. Ms Zypries welcomed the improvement in legal cooperation on criminal matters and in the civil law field. A further meeting of the permanent EU-Russia Partnership Council, in its justice and home affairs formation, is expected to unfold during the second half of this year. (bc)