Talks on Russian border
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• Russia's Prime Minister is due to meet the President of the European Commission next week to discuss the transit problems suffered by EU hauliers travelling to the former communist state.
EU Transport Commissioner Neil Kinnock will not meet Viktor Chernomyrdin personally but he will be asking his boss, Jacques Santer, to raise the issue of border problems with the Russian Federation leader.
The discussions will go on against a backdrop of continued strife with Russian customs. Up to 40 blacklisted West European hauliers are still believed to be banned for breaking Russian rules, and operators complain of being pulled up over trivial issues such as hand writing a form, although there is no rule against it.
Common infringements include breaking the Russian stipulation that TIR hauliers must use a towing vehicle of the same nationality as their TIR carnet.
Last week Kinnock talked to the Russian Transport Minister, Nikolas Tsakh, about these issues: this year the Commission is spending around £13.7m on improving border infrastructure between EU and non-EU states.