Four European spaces to be discussed at Russia-EU summit

The formation of four European spaces is to be discussed at the Russia-EU summit in Rome, RIA Novosti was told by a high-placed source in the Kremlin.

According to the source, the formation of European economic space, space of freedom of movement, external security space, and space of science, education and culture will come under discussion.

Speaking of the common economic space, the source noted that "the work on this question went on for more than two years, and objectively not bad results have been attained". In particular, the parameters of drawing the legislation of Russia and the EU closer together have been determined. "This is very important, since we want to bring our legislation closer to the European legislation soon", the source said.

The source qualified the discussion of such questions as facilitation of the visa regime, the fight against illegal migration, and cooperation along the Interior Ministries' lines as the formation of internal security space.

The source called the joint fight against terrorism the main question of external security.

As he said, cooperation in forming common space of science, education and culture "has been making rather fast headway".

The Kremlin source also said that the question of the shaping of the Russia-EU permanent council will be discussed in the course of the summit, and that the development of the internal situation in Russia and the EU will be considered.

The international block of the summit's agenda includes the situation in Iraq, in the Middle East and in Afghanistan, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and the status of Russian-speaking population in Latvia and Estonia.