"Russia and the European Union have agreed to form expert groups for the implementation of their ambitious plan to create a visa-free zone," Viktor Ivanov told reporters after a Russia-EU Permanent Partnership Council session.
Ivanov said the sides had made great progress in efforts to harmonize security and justice standards since last autumn's EU-Russia summit in Luxembourg, and were ready to sign agreements relaxing visa rules at their forthcoming meeting at the Black Sea resort of Sochi.
The PPC session also covered cooperation in the fight against terrorism, organized crime, drugs trafficking, slave trade and money laundering.
Russia and the European Union last year agreed to relax visa regulations for certain categories of travelers. Russia also agreed to commit itself to readmitting deported immigrants who illegally enter the EU from its territory.
