Summit deepens cooperation between the EU and Russia
Government Communications Unit
Press release 433/2006
24.11.2006
On 24 November, leaders from the EU and Russia met in Helsinki for an EU-Russia Summit. The main focus of the meeting was on improving the broad-based cooperation between the two.
The leaders noted the positive way in which relations between the EU and Russia had developed in many areas over the past half-year. Relations with Russia have been one of the priorities for Finland’s EU Presidency, during which there have been four ministerial-level meetings of the Partnership Council and a number of expert meetings so far.
Flows of trade and investment between the EU and Russia are steadily increasing. Joint action to improve the business and investment environment must continue, in order to exploit the full potential of economic relations. Energy cooperation between the EU and Russia is based on a positive interdependence. The energy sector needs to function in a transparent, predictable way, based on reciprocity. The partners expressed their satisfaction with the Environment Partnership Council in October and the environmental dialogue which it strengthened and which will pave the way for comprehensive cooperation on environmental matters.
At the Summit, the European Commission and Russia endorsed the outcome of the negotiations on the phasing out of charges for overflying Siberia. This will make European carriers significantly more competitive on routes between Europe and Asia.
With regard to the common space of freedom, security and justice, the leaders attached the utmost importance to ensuring rapid implementation of agreements on visa facilitation and readmission of people found to be illegally on the territory of the other party. They also expressed a desire for closer cooperation on countering common security threats, such as terrorism and organised crime. The EU stressed the need to respect human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law in all areas of cooperation.
The EU and Russia highlighted the importance of direct contacts between citizens as a basis for the strategic partnership. This kind of interaction can be promoted in educational and cultural sectors in particular. Cooperation between higher education institutions and student exchanges between the EU and Russia have been strongly emphasised during the autumn. This is also a priority for the future.
The leaders stressed the importance of cooperation on international issues for the security and welfare of the whole of Europe. Steps should be taken to make cooperation more concrete. Over lunch, international matters were discussed, including Iran, the Western Balkans, the Middle East, North Korea, Georgia, Belarus and Moldova.
The Summit did not yet agree to launch negotiations for a new framework agreement between the EU and Russia. The EU does not yet have a mandate needed to start negotiations. As the holder of Presidency, Finland will continue work to enable the mandate to be adopted as soon as possible and to launch negotiations on a new framework agreement. The existing Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) will be valid until a new agreement comes into force.
The EU-Russia Summit was chaired by the President of the European Council, Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen. The EU was also represented by the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso; High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana; Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Erkki Tuomioja; and Members of the European Commission, Benita Ferrero-Waldner and Peter Mandelson. The Russian delegation was lead by the President of Russia Vladimir Putin. Russia was also represented by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sergei Lavrov; Minister of Economic Development and Trade, German Gref; and Minister of Transport, Igor Levitin. In addition, the President of Finland, Tarja Halonen, attended the working lunch.
Further information: Johan Schalin, Special Adviser to the Prime Minister, Prime Minister’s Office, tel. +358 9 1602 2068 and Päivi Laine, Counsellor, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 5616