Foreign ministers Stubb and Lavrov discuss visa-free travel between EU and Russia

Finnish and Russian foreign ministers meet in Moscow

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Finland has set two conditions for its endorsement of lifting the visa requirement for travel between the European Union and Russia.
      Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs Alexander Stubb (Nat. Coalition Party) said in Moscow on Tuesday that Russia must first drop its requirement that foreign citizens register each time they enter Russia, and Russia must also make it easier for foreigners to get work permits.
      The prospect of visa-free travel for citizens of the EU and Russia was a major item discussed when Stubb met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday.
     
The visa issue is a matter between Russia and the EU. At the EU level, such decisions are made by the member states in the European Council, on the basis of a recommendation by the European Commission.
      The EU has conditions of its own, in addition to the ones put to Lavrov by Stubb: Russians are expected to guard their borders more efficiently, and corruption needs to be eliminated to a degree that passports can no longer simply be bought.
     
Finland, the EU, and Russia are now openly moving toward a visa-free arrangement. Previously deadlines have expired without the expected decisions. Easing freedom of movement is seen as economically important for Finland, as Russia is Finland’s single largest trading partner.
      The ministers also discussed a matter in which the son of a Finnish-Russian family had been taken into foster care in Turku.
      The case has received much media attention in Russia.
     
Stubb did not want to comment on the matter, which falls under the jurisdiction of local social services. Finland has been in touch with Russia recently to propose, on a general level, that the child ombudsmen of the two countries should start to meet regularly. The first such meeting is already scheduled for later this month.
      Stubb also met with representatives of Russian NGOs, and discussed human rights issues with Lavrov.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  New rules bring confusion to Russian visa application process (21.7.2007)
  VR lobbies for visa-free travel for train passengers to Russia (7.12.2009)
  Opinions divided on issue of visa-free travel with Russia (27.5.2008)

Helsingin Sanomat