Russian and EU officials will discuss on Wednesday Russia's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), a source close to the talks said.
A Russian delegation headed by First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov will meet with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and other top EU officials in Brussels.
"The main topic of discussion in Brussels on Wednesday will be Russia's accession to the WTO," the source said.
Russia, the only major economy outside the global trade body, has been negotiating WTO membership for 17 years, although the average accession period is only five to seven years.
Russia's Minister of Economic Development Elvira Nabiullina earlier said the talks would focus on the issue of export duties on lumber, which remains a stumbling block in Russia's WTO negotiations.
Russia expects to join the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2011.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev ordered on November 15 that the remaining issues hampering Russia's WTO accession should be resolved quickly, and without creating obstacles to businesses.
BRUSSELS, November 24 (RIA Novosti)
