EU en Rusland naderen akkoord over Wereldhandelsorganisatie (en)

Brussels and Moscow on Thursday came close to an agreement that would open the way for Russia to join the World Health Organisation (WTO).

"Substantial progress was achieved during the negotiating session on all issues across the board, including market access in goods and services and systemic issues like energy", said a joint statement following talks between Trade commissioner Pascal Lamy and the Russian economy minister German Gref.

The two sides will have another meeting on 20 May, the eve of the EU-Russia

summit in Moscow, to finalise the last details.

"In the meantime, both parties will continue to discuss outstanding issues at

the technical level. They will also refer to their respective authorities the outcome of the discussions so far", says their statement.

The news is a boost to Russian President Vladimir Putin who has been exerting strong pressure to join the world trade body.

Mr Putin upped the stakes by linking WTO membership with signing the Kyoto Protocol on climate change - something which the pro-Kyoto EU needs for the environment agreement to go into place.

For its part, the EU has been pushing Russia to open its telecoms, financial services and energy markets.

Russia started on its road to the WTO in 1993 and is the biggest economy still outside the 147-nation WTO, which sets rules on international trade.