Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council. First progress report on the implementation by Russia of the common steps towards visa free short-term travel of Russian and EU citizens under the EU-Russia visa dialogue

The EU-Russia Summit in St Petersburg in May 2003 agreed that the Parties would start examining the conditions for reciprocal visa-free travel as a long-term perspective which laid down the basis for the visa free discussions between Russia and the EU. Consequently, in spring 2007, the EU-Russia Visa Dialogue was launched. Similarly to the visa dialogues with other third countries and based on the requirements of Regulation (EC) No 539/2001, the EU-Russia Visa Dialogue was built around four Blocks (document security including biometrics, illegal migration including readmission, public order and security, and external relations).

Between December 2007 and March 2010 six expert meetings took place in Moscow in order to explore the state of EU and Russian legislation and practice in all fields under the four Blocks of the Visa Dialogue. Based on the findings of these expert meetings, the Commission proposed to the Council that, at the May 2010 EU-Russia Permanent Partnership Council on Justice, Freedom and Security (JLS PPC), both sides should agree to start working towards a document on "Common Steps towards visa-free travel" that would list technical criteria and requirements for a visa free regime. The Council accepted that approach.

A dedicated kick-off meeting between the EU and Russian experts took place in March 2012. During that meeting both sides discussed and explained their understanding of each Common Step and operational measure necessary to be addressed in order to fully evaluate their proper implementation. Russia and the EU thereafter prepared their respective written reports on the state of implementation of all the Common Steps. Russia transmitted its written report on 13 April 2012 whereas the EU side did so on 31 May 2012. Further written exchanges and replies to additional questions formulated by both sides were carried out until September 2012.

The EU-Russia Visa Dialogue is based on full reciprocity between the Parties. The way towards visa liberalisation depends on the progress made in implementing the Common Steps and there is no automaticity in the process. As the Common Steps specify in their final provisions, only once the implementation of the Common Steps is completed, the Parties will decide, in accordance with their respective internal procedures, on starting negotiations on an EU-Russia visa waiver agreement. The full implementation of the EU-Russia visa facilitation and readmission agreements is very important for the Visa Dialogue.

This is the first progress report presented by the Commission describing the state of play of the implementation of the Common Steps by Russia, formulating issues of concern and recommendations.

EUR-Lex: COM(2013)923: Follow the progress of this report through the decision-making procedure http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/HIS/?uri=COM:2013:923:FIN

ESO: Background information: First Commission report on the implementation by Russia of the Common Steps for visa-free regime with the EU http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-first-commission-report-on-the-implementation-by-russia-of-the-common-steps-for-visa-free-regime-with-the-eu/

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