Medvedev pushes for easier access to EU
Meeting at the Normandy resort of Deauville today, Medvedev told Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy the importance of breaking down travel barriers like the current visa system.
According to Itar-Tass, the Russian President expects support of the French President and the German Chancellor in the visa-free travel issue between Russia and the European Union.
Russia presented a plan on the introduction of visa-free travel during the Russia-EU Summit in Rostov-On-Don this spring. An official EU response to the proposal is expected in December this year.
In the meantime, the Russian President is highlighting the issue at the meeting with Chancellor Merkel and President Sarkozy in France this week.
Russian officials have over the last few years by several occasions said the country is ready to scrap the visa regime with the EU, and other Schengen countries like Norway, tomorrow if approved by the EU.
The EU member states on the other side are divided in the question regarding visa-freedom. Several countries, like Italy and France, have supported the idea, while especially the new member states in Eastern Europe have stated openly their skepticism.
EU officials at the Rostov-On-Don Summit said Russia should lift, or at least soften, the system of registration of foreigners visiting Russia.
Speaking to Itar-Tass, Presidential aide Sergei Prikhodko said: “…we understand our responsibility. Germany and France are competent conversation partners, the “Heavyweights, who have the right to ask question of their own, such as the system of registration of foreigners in Russia, and we’re ready to treat the question of or leading partners as seriously.”
- We will work with Russia in the atmosphere of trust, especially on the issue of visas, Sarkozy told a press conference after talks with Medvedev and Merkel, reports RIA Novosti.
