( Itar-Tass ) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed the federal law on the ratification of the agreement between the Russian Federation and the European Union on simplification of visa issuing for citizens of Russia and the European Union, the presidential press service said.
The Russian parliament's lower house State Duma passed the law on February 14 and the upper house Federation Council approved it on February 21, 2007.
The agreement between the Russian Federation and the European Union was signed in Sochi on May 25, 2006. It envisages simplification of the procedures to issue visas for some categories of citizens, in particular members of official delegations, businessmen or representatives of commercial organisations, drivers and members of train crews, reporters, culture, science and education figures, students and schoolchildren and participants of international sport events.
The agreement also standardises visa fees and regulates time limits for visa procedures.
The document is aimed at development and broadening of contacts between citizens of Russia and European Union member countries.