EU, Russia Move Toward Visa-Free Travel

Russia and the European Union agree on moves towards visa-free travel (EurActiv.com)

Advances towards visa-free travel depend on the implementation of a number of "common steps" such as introducing biometric passports and preventing illegal migration.

"This decision has clear potential benefits to our citizens and for people-to-people contacts," said European Commission President José Manuel Barroso, who participated in EU-Russia summit. "But this will probably not happen next year."

Russia pledged to give at least €7.5 billion ($10 billion) to help indebted eurozone countries via the International Monetary Fund. Previous statements from Moscow had indicated $10 billion would be the upper limit.

Biometric passports offer governments a way to increase confidence in the travel documents they issue.