Russia is the EU's 3rd largest trade partner, and after the EU-Russia summit it is one step closer to joining the WTO.

Medvedev signs historic trade deal in Brussels

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/15356886/n001-101208-001-en.srt

East meets West as relations warm  during the 26th EU-Russia Summit,

or the Wikileaks revelations  were not brought up.

with a greenlight from the EU  to join the World Trade Organisation,

a key step after the USA’s greenlight.

Russia would be the 154th state  to join the club.

concerning Russia’s wish  to join the WTO.

I think that the partnership  for modernisation

will also be discussed,  also for common spaces.

In this respect I am sure that special  attention will be given to external security.

But not all the creases between  the EU and Moscow were ironed out.

The Visa issue is still  up in the air after 7 years.

Russia is desperate to see the visa entry  requirement lifted for the EU.

The chair of relations with Russia  delegation remains prudent.

On the one hand we need  a visa-free regime

for companies who want  to invest in Russia

On the other we speak of the  importance of civil society.

So we have to find ways  that people come easier together.

Border protection and the introduction  of biometric passports

seem to be the main obstacles to getting  rid of visas for Russians entering the EU.

That will be on the next summit’s agenda  in Moscow 2011.