Vol. 575 No. 3
298 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the working arrangements that exist between Europol and the Russian ministry of the interior; and the situation with regard to proposals for visa free travel between the EU and Russia. [26789/03]
On 6 November an agreement between Europol and the Russian Federation on co-operation in the fight against serious forms of transnational crime was signed. A draft of the agreement was considered and approved by the Council on 3 November and a copy is available on the EU website.
Under the agreement the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation is the principal competent authority in Russia for co-operation with Europol. The agreement does not provide for the exchange of personal data.
Discussions are ongoing between Russia and the European Union on the issue of travel facilitation. These discussions relate primarily to the Schengen visa system in which Ireland does not participate.
