Deputy Speaker of the State Duma Vladimir Lukin proposes the introduction of a visa-free regime for Russian students for trips to European Union countries and for European students for trips to Russia. Such a proposal was made at the meeting of the Committee of Parliamentary Cooperation "Russia - the European Union" which took place in the State Duma on May 20, 2003.

According to Lukin, once the Kaliningrad problem has been settled, it will be necessary to conduct negotiations with the EU on visa-free regime for the Russian citizens for trips to the Western Europe. Deputy Speaker of the State Duma mentioned that this idea had already been voiced by the President of Russia Vladimir Putin as a first stage, when it was proposed that a visa-free regime be introduced for crossing EU borders for those with diplomatic and official passports.

Deputy of the European Parliament from Finland Reino Paasilinna and Vice-Speaker of the State Duma Vladimir Lukin at the briefing devoted to the results of the meeting of the Committee of Parliamentary Cooperation "Russia - the European Union". Moscow, May 20, 2003. Photo by Sergei Loktionov.

However, according to Lukin, in negotiations on visa-free regime we have to "keep in mind not only the present bureaucracy, but also the future leaders of countries." "Why don't we start with students, even older schoolchildren - let them freely cross the borders to study and work in Europe, said Lukin, - as these represent investments in culture and civilization.

Visa-free regime for students, said Lukin, would also be profitable as a contribution to trade and economic exchanges: "Europe holds the first place with a large gap with other countries in trade exchange with Russia, and Russian students go and study mainly in the USA. We have to create new incentives for students to facilitate their access to the leading European universities." Vladimir Lukin also informed the journalists that he had conducted consultations on the problem of visa-free regime for Russian citizens on trips to the EU with some "leading European politicians" and "they have nothing against this idea." "We will do we can to ensure that this idea be considered at the May summit in St.Petersburg and guarantee that this proposal will be tabled to our leadership and leaders of a number of European countries," added Deputy Speaker of the State Duma.

He also noted that YABLOKO is the European party that has consistently supported the idea of liberating Russian citizens from visa barriers on trips to Central and Western Europe. According to YABLOKO, the relationships between Russia and the EU should gradually come round to the principles of "four liberties" serving as the basis for European integration : free movement of capital, trade, services and people.

The Committee of Parliamentary Cooperation "Russia - the European Union"

Meeting of the Bureau of the Committee of Parliamentary Cooperation "Russia - the European Union" chaired by Vice-Speaker of the State Duma Vladimir Lukin. The State Duma, Moscow, May 20, 2003. Photo by Sergei Loktionov.

includes members of the European Parliament and the State Duma: it is chaired by Vladimir Lukin and Bart Staats, Belgium. In addition to the visa-free regime issue, the Bureau of the Committee also discussed other urgent issues related to an expansion in cooperation with the European Union: in the energy sector, ecological and health care problems.

See also: