Russian-EU Moscow summit to speed up Russia's joining WTO

The new Russian-EU summit due on Wednesday in Moscow is to give a political impulse to the process of Russia's joining the World Trade organization, believes Richard Wright, head of the European Commission's delegation in Moscow.

The EU leaders will discuss the conditions necessary for Russia to join the WTO and expect suggestions on speeding up the process from the Russian party, he said.

Wright recalled that the EU had already made a number of such proposals to Russia during last year. They were concerned with improving access to the Russian market for financial, banking and insurance services, as well as for European telecommunications producers. "I hope that after the summit the talks will speed up," Wright said.

The European Union intends to announce its support for Russia in joining the WTO. It "will create stable conditions for European businessmen," he believes.