Russia And EU to Outline Concept of Single Economic Environment By November

Elaboration of a concept of a single economic environment for Russia and the European Union is to be finished by the beginning of November 2003, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov reported after his negotiations with his Italian counterpart Silvio Berlusconi.

According to Mikhail Kasyanov, cooperation between Russia and Italy and the European Union on the whole in the energy field "is to become broader in the near future." Both Russia and Italy have great experience and achievements in this field, the Russian Prime Minister said. He recalled that Russia and Italy would soon be ready to conduct an opening ceremony of the Blue Stream gas pipeline whose construction had almost been finished.

Mikhail Kasyanov stressed a great increase of trade and investment cooperation between Russia and Italy as well as the fact that cooperation with Russia had become a priority for the Italian business circles for the last two years.

Mikhail Kasyanov believes that all this has been achieved due to the Italian Cabinet headed by Silvio Berlusconi. "The level of our relations has reached the highest peak for the last two years and we appreciate this partnership," Mikhail Kasyanov said.