Brussels, 20/10/2008 (Agence Europe) - The French European Union Presidency and Russia agreed, in Paris on Wednesday 15 October, to step up their cooperation to combat crime, France's Interior Minister Michèle Alliot-Marie has told the press. Her announcement came after a two-day meeting of the EU-Russia Permanent Partnership Council (PPC) on justice, freedom and security. “We must enhance our cooperation, looking at areas in which we can still move forward, so that there are no more loopholes in our law allowing some to use a country's law to escape prosecution”, Ms Alliot-Marie stressed. During the meeting, the EU and Russia spoke of their cooperation in the field of organised crime and the fight against drugs and cybercrime. Both parties also agreed to “intensify cooperation between Europol and the Russian services and to do so as quickly as possible”, the minister said. Jacques Barrot, Vice-President of the European Commission, pointed out for his part that the EU and Russia had “agreed it was necessary to pursue dialogue on visas”. When it comes to border issues, both sides welcomed cooperation set in place between Frontex and the Russian border guard service and discussed issues relating to common borders. Participants also discussed legal cooperation in civil and criminal matters and welcomed the recent contacts made between Eurojust and Russia regarding a possible cooperation agreement. The forthcoming Czech EU Council Presidency set out its priorities and pledged to implement constructive cooperation. The EU and Russia agreed to hold the tenth meeting of the EU-Russia Permanent Partnership Council on freedom, security and justice during the first half of 2009, in Russia. (B.C./transl.jl)