Implementation of the EU-Russia visa faciliation agreement

7.10.2010

Question for oral answer O-0140/2010
to the Commission
Rule 115
Kristiina Ojuland
on behalf of the ALDE Group

The visa facilitation agreement between the European Union and the Russian Federation entered into force on 1 June 2007 with the objective of substantially facilitating the issuing of visas and simplifying administrative procedures, both for Russian citizens travelling to the European Union and for EU nationals when travelling to Russia. The agreement stated that the objective should be visa-free travel on a reciprocal basis. The Russian authorities have regularly repeated their request to take further steps towards full visa-free travel.

However, further steps towards full visa-free travel necessitate that the existing agreement on visa facilitation be fully implemented in a completely reciprocal way and that both the EU Member States and the Russian Federation implement and live up to the commitments contained in the 2007 visa facilitation agreement.

Does the Commission consider that all EU Member States have implemented fully the 2007 visa facilitation agreement with the Russian Federation?

Does the Commission regard Russian implementation of the visa facilitation agreement, in particular as regards Article 10, as satisfactory, in particular as there remains a requirement for foreigners, including EU citizens, to register with the authorities if staying in a private home?

Will the Commission publish an evaluation of how the visa facilitation agreement has worked so far and on its consequences on people-to-people and business contacts between the EU and Russia?

Tabled: 7.10.2010

Forwarded: 11.10.2010

Deadline for reply: 18.10.2010