Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Friday called on the European Union to start discussing his initiative on a common economic space between Russia and the EU.
Putin outlined his vision of a future Europe, including the creation of an economic community from Lisbon to Vladivostok, a free trade zone and "progressive types of economic integration," in an article published by Sueddeutsche Zeitung on Thursday.
"The earlier we start the discussion... the faster we will finish it," Putin said at a joint press conference after talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday.
"Ultimately, this idea's implementation will certainly be useful for both the Russian and European economies," he said.
Merkel expressed skepticism Thursday about Moscow's call for the EU to remove all barriers in the way of Russia's admission to the World Trade Organization and to unify laws and customs procedures.
"Russia's recent steps are aimed in the other direction," she said, an apparent allusion to Russia's customs union with Belarus and Kazakhstan, the creation of which Berlin did not welcome.
Putin also said Friday he does not rule out that Russia and the EU may establish a monetary union someday.
BERLIN, November 26 (RIA Novosti)
