EU supports Russia's WTO accession in 2011

The European Union supports Russia's efforts to enter the World Trade Organization (WTO) by 2011, RIA Novosti quotes European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.

Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov said on Wednesday that Russia and the European Union will sign a document on Russia's accession to the WTO during the forthcoming  Russia-EU summit in Brussels on December 7.

"I look forward to a successful summit, with tangible progress in key areas. We've just achieved a breakthrough on Russia's WTO accession and strongly support Russia's efforts to become a member in 2011," Barroso said in a statement.

"This will strengthen trade and investment and contribute to shared growth," the European Commission President added.

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.