You're reading: Russia: elaboration of visa-free travel agreement with EU may start in early 2014

Moscow, Russia - Russia is ready to start drawing up a visa-free travel agreement with the European Union in the beginning of next year, Russian Foreign Ministry Ambassador at Large Anvar Azimov said.

 “We are moving onto the final straight and a moment of truth is
coming. We expect to begin accomplishing our main task, the elaboration
of a visa-free travel agreement, early next year upon the fulfillment of
the list of steps we are taking jointly with the European Union,”
Azimov said at a personal data protection conference in Moscow on
Wednesday.

Experts have confirmed Russia’s technical preparedness for this deal,
and the necessary political decisions have been made, he said. “The EU
is also technically prepared, but it is so far unable to make a
political decision. The issue will be the focus of the next summit,”
Azimov said.

An updated agreement on the relaxation of visa issue regulations is
also ready, and Russia has done everything in its power to have it
signed. But EU representatives raised the question of the Transportation
Ministry’s ordinance concerning automated databases of Russian and
foreign passengers.

“Hence, the protection of personal data has become the stumbling
block for the agreements we wish to conclude in the near future. Certain
EU member states link simpler visa formalities to the protection of
personal data,” Azimov said.

Russia has been waiting for the European Commission to sign the
agreement for the past six months, the diplomat said. “We would like to
move on, and our main priority is visa-free short-term travel for
Russian and EU citizens,” Azimov said.