Asia-Pacific

Russia-EU to discuss visa, WTO bid, energy security

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-12-07 09:35

MOSCOW - The upcoming Tuesday summit between Russia and the European Union (EU) will focus on visa-free regime, Russia's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and energy security, said a Kremlin aide Monday.

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"Priority attention will be paid to moving to visa-free short-term trips for Russian and EU citizens and determining ways for further work on this track," said Sergei Prikhodko at a press conference.

The summit "will draw a line on our work on all issues that facilitated our agreements on the accession to the WTO," Prikhodko said, adding that "it's the EU position that has a decisive significance for the soonest completion of the talks."

"The parties will declare about a big political breakthrough" at the closing press conference, he added.

As on energy security, "one of the priority issues is to implement the Third Energy Package, which may damage Russia's interests."

The Third Energy Package plan agreed in March 2009 contained a so-called "Gazprom Clause" designated to prevent companies from outside the EU from purchasing strategic distribution networks without approval by governments.

Other topics might be discussed at the summit, which Prikhodko regarded as a "working meeting," included tackling the aftermath of the global financial crisis, the Partnership for Modernization initiative, climate change, regional and international issues such as Iranian nuclear program.

The Russia-EU summit was held twice a year. Last summit was staged in southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don between May 31 to June 1.