MOSCOW, April 4 (RIA Novosti) - In 2007, the Russian-EU foreign policy relations might experience significant changes, Russian Foreign Ministry official spokesman Alexander Yakovenko told RIA Novosti in connection with the forthcoming visit to Moscow by the European Union Council secretary general.

"In 2007, Russia-EU relations in the foreign policy sphere might experience significant changes," he noted.

According to the spokesman, these changes were caused by the EU Constitution coming into force and the transformation of the EU institutions connected with it (collective presidency in the EU Council, the posts of the European Council president and the Foreign Minister).

"Besides, in 2007 the 10-year initial term of validity of the partnership and cooperation agreement between Russia and the EU will be over, Russia is expected to join the WTO, and a regular round of EU enlargement will be completed," said Yakovenko.

"In this connection, an exchange of opinions on perfecting the structure of Russia-EU interaction will take place to reach this line with a solid legal base and efficient mechanisms of cooperation," said the Russian Foreign Ministry official spokesman.

Moscow regards the meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and EU Council [of Ministers] Secretary General Javier Solana as an opportunity to consolidate the two-way channel of Russia-EU dialogue, he added.

This channel makes it possible to promptly discuss the most urgent issues of bilateral ties, first of all their foreign policy component, assess the developments in the rapidly changing world around, test ideas that would probably define the fundamentals of our relations in the future, said Yakovenko.

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