BRUSSELS, May 4 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) has become increasingly firm on its position on Russia's bid to join the World Trade Organization (WTO), urging Moscow to resolving "bilateral problems," the EU official said on Friday.

    "We should make clear that the EU is ready to support early conclusion of Russia's WTO accession but not at any price and bilateral problems and the disregard for the implementation of existing commitments will be a major impediment," European Commission trade spokesman Peter Power told a press conference on Friday.

    "The European Union is strongly committed to seeing Russia within the WTO but it is clear we need to find a commercially viable basis for this," Power said.

    According to Power, a number of problems have to be resolved before Brussels gives final nod to Russia's WTO bid, like export duties, railway fees and compatibility of Russian trade barriers with WTO rules.

    The EU-Russia summit is to be held on May 18, and the WTO issue is expected to be among the top agenda.

    The EU has already given its bilateral approval for Russia joining the WTO. Russia is now seeking multilateral approval, a process it hopes to complete this year. ¡¡