Russia-EU working group to hold session on Kaliningrad region in March

The Russia-EU working group intends to hold a session in Kaliningrad this March to discuss problems facing the Kaliningrad region, a Russian enclave in the Baltics, the governor of the region, Vladimir Yegorov, reported. Among the issues to be discussed he cited the simplification of visa formalities and the issuing of permissions for cargo transportation.

1,655 joint Russo-Polish and Russo-Lithuanian enterprises are operating in the region. The introduction of Euro-visas for Kaliningrad residents may break the existing economic contacts, the governor believes.

He also reported that the construction of a 900MW thermal power station would be launched this year. This is related to the fact that after Lithuania joins the EU, the region will be deprived of the possibility of receiving electricity from Russia. The first unit of the thermal power station is to be commissioned in 2005.