Cooperation on Home Affairs is a key component of the strategic relationship between the EU and Russia. This cooperation is based on a Road Map for the Common Space of Freedom, Security and Justice, adopted at the EU-Russia Summit in May 2005. The Permanent Partnership Councils (PPCs) and Senior Official meetings (SOMs) on Justice, Freedom and Security have been established to set priorities and to monitor progress. Following Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea, the EU suspended the PPCs and SOMs.
Migration
People-to-people contacts and general migration issues are of major importance for both the EU and Russia.
An EU-Russia migration dialogue was launched in May 2011 at the Permanent Partnership Council (PPC) on Justice, Freedom and Security in Saint Petersburg. The dialogue creates a unique opportunity for the EU and Russia to discuss legal and irregular migration, international protection and the links between migration and development.
Visa and readmission
The EU-Russia visa facilitation and readmission agreements, entering into force in June 20017, simplified the procedure for issuing visas and provided for the repatriation of EU, Russian citizens, other non-EU nationals and stateless people residing irregularly either in the EU or on Russian territory.
The EU has financed several projects addressing irregular migration, human trafficking and asylum issues in Russia.
The annual EU-Russia Joint Visa Facilitation Committee and Joint Readmission Committee regularly discuss practical issues related to the implementation of the Agreements.
Organised crime
In 2003, Europol and Russia signed a Strategic Agreement as a framework for cooperation, which is the basis for the coordination of policies, exchange of best practice and other forms of cooperation.
In 2013, a Working Arrangement between the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL) and the Federal State Public Training Institution of Higher Professional Education (Academy of Management of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation) was concluded. The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) and the Federal Drug Control Service of the Russian Federation signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2007 to facilitate exchange of information. Annual EU-Russia expert meetings on drugs are ongoing.
Counter-Terrorism
The EU is also maintaining an expert-level dialogue with Russia to prevent and combat terrorism.