AGREEMENT
between the Russian Federation and the European Community on readmission

THE PARTIES,

THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION and THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY, hereinafter referred to as "the Community",

determined to strengthen their co-operation in order to combat illegal immigration more effectively,

referring to the Agreement on Partnership and Co-operation between the Russian Federation, on the one part, and the Community and its Member States, on the other part, concluded in Corfu on 24 June 1994, and in particular Article 84 and the joint declaration in relation to Articles 26, 32 and 37 in the Final Act thereof,

having regard to the Joint Statement agreed on the occasion of the St. Petersburg Summit held on 31 May 2003 stating that the Russian Federation and the European Union agree to conclude timely the negotiations on a readmission agreement,

desiring to establish, by means of this Agreement and on the basis of reciprocity, rapid and effective procedures for the identification and return of persons who do not, or no longer, fulfil the conditions for entry to, presence in, or residence on the territories of the Russian Federation or one of the Member States of the European Union, and to facilitate the transit of such persons in a spirit of cooperation,