During the meeting, Mr Shuvalov and Mr Breitschaft discussed the adoption of Eurocodes in Russia and an interim period to prepare national documentation and ensure the early use of Eurocodes parallel with standard construction rules and regulations. Mr Shuvalov remarked that he would be glad to see German specialists contributing to the creation of a relevant mechanism, as well as of a strategy for an appropriate authorised organisation and a procedure for obtaining permits for particular projects using Eurocodes.
In response, Mr Breitschaft, on behalf of the German Institute for Construction Technology, expressed readiness to render to the Russian authorities and professional organisations expert assistance and technical support in this area.

Eurocodes are documents agreed at the European Union level and recommended for use by member-countries with due account for each nation's demands. National supplements to Eurocodes provide additional requirements to individual construction parameters, which can be higher, but never lower, than European ones. These requirements are determined by each country individually. In Germany, in the period until 2012, a parallel use of national legislation and Eurocodes is allowed.

Mr Shuvalov said that Russia would like to have expert support from German specialists to enable potential investors to choose between Eurocodes and national requirements.

The first deputy prime minister stressed that Russia should harmonise Russian legislation on statutory rules for construction with relevant legislation in the European Union.

At the same time, Mr Shuvalov said: "A fast decision should be taken in order that our investors can use Eurocodes even now. This is a complex multi-aspect issue covering town building, standards, technical regulation and hands-on application."

He showed an interest in the Institute as a non-government organisation with a special status, authorised by the federal government to fulfil a number of functions in construction practice, in particular to issue permits for the construction of facilities under special conditions and with non-standard documentation. Mr Shuvalov gave a high assessment to its experience, stressing that the issues of setting regulations in the sector are addressed in this case by professional associations grouping key experts on construction. It is these experts who prepare and verify all documentation for construction projects.