The meeting discussed various aspects of Russia’s internal and external policy.
Vladimir Putin stressed the need to finalise and sign at an earliest possible date the document aimed at stepping up the fight against corruption.
On the issue of the draft 2004 budget the President drew the attention of the ministers to the need to cooperate closely with the State Duma and expressed hope that the third reading of the budget law would be passed by the Duma without undue delays.
The head of state briefed the Government members on the results of the Russia-EU summit held in Rome on November 6. He noted with satisfaction the productive character of the talks stressing the significant progress made in the Russia-EU dialogue on the formation of four spaces in the spheres of the economy, security, justice, science and education and, in the longer term, the creation of a visa-free regime between Russia and the greater Europe.
The problem of free movement of the citizens of Russia and the European Union countries was actively discussed during the separate consultations with the leaders of Italy (November 4–5) and France (November 7). The result was an agreement on mutual facilitation of the terms of entry, stay and exit for some categories of citizens. Vladimir Putin said that a similar treaty had earlier been signed with Germany.