Press Release: EU-Russia relations: next steps towards visa facilitation and readmission agreement

In the margins of the EU-Russia Permanent Partnership Council (JHA) in Luxembourg, 12 October 2005, the Vice-President of the European Commission, Franco Frattini, and Presidential Aide, Viktor Ivanov, were to sign two bilateral agreements on the facilitation of visa and on readmission. This event marked the formal completion of negotiations between the two sides, which had lasted more than 5 years. The two agreements were to open the way for easier travel and people-to-people contact across Europe, while fighting illegal migration.

• Primary Source

European Commission: DG External Relations: Countries: Russia http://www.eeas.europa.eu/russia/index_en.htm

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