Brussels, 09/06/2011 (Agence Europe) - Ahead of the EU-Russia summit on Friday 10 June in Nizhny-Novgorod (see EUROPE 10393), the European Parliament has pointed the finger at what many see as an open sore in EU relations with Russia, namely problems with the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms in the country. “There is an urgent need for Russia to implement fundamental principles of democracy, the rule of law, human rights and media freedom as a basis for cooperation”, explain the MEPs in a joint resolution tabled by the five biggest political parties (EPP, S&D, ALDE, Greens/EFA and ECR) and voted through on Thursday 9 June in Strasbourg. Russia is urged “take concrete action to improve its human rights record and to protect journalists, human rights activists, minorities and opposition representatives from violence and intimidation”.
The MEPs express concern about the verdict issued on 26 May by the Russian Court of Appeal against Mikhaïl Khodorkovski and his associate Platon Lebedev, describing it as a “politically motivated court decision”. The EP also criticises “political interference with the trial” but welcomes President Dmitri Medvedev's decision to hold an investigation. The EP “regrets that, contrary to Russia's obligations as a member of the Council of Europe to uphold freedom of assembly, peaceful citizens' gatherings continue to be banned and violently dispersed”, like the Gay Pride march in Moscow recently. Ahead of upcoming Duma elections (the Russian parliament), the EP calls for the elections to be “free and fair” and comply with Council of Europe and OSCE electoral standards. “Some registration procedures for political parties and candidate lists have proved to be unjustified”, regrets the EP, describing them as an “obstacle to free and fair elections”. Moscow is also urged to allow the OSCE or the Council of Europe to set up a long-term election monitoring system, and Catherine Ashton is asked to drive this point home at the summit.
Strategic partner. Despite these concerns and criticisms, the EP “reaffirms its belief that Russia remains one of the EU's most important partners in building strategic cooperation”, explains the resolution. Russian and European leaders are urged to take advantage of the summit to make progress in important pending issues like negotiations over the signing of a new partnership and cooperation agreement (where an over-arching and legally binding agreement is needed, covering not only political, economic and social aspects, but also democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights, particularly fundamental rights, which should also form part of the agreement); the partnership for modernisation; setting up four common areas; Russia's application to join the World Trade Organisation, which the EP backs as long as Moscow meets all WTO rules, particularly the dropping of all protectionist measures; and the EU-Russia dialogue on visa facilitation (the EP wants the EU visa requirement for Russian passport-holders to be scrapped eventually but on a gradual basis depending on tangible progress).
Energy must not be used as a political tool. When it comes to energy, the EP says: “Russia's energy policy vis-à-vis member states and countries in the common neighbourhood will be a litmus test of the real seriousness of Russia's intention to follow the path of modernisation and democratisation.” The EP says that energy supplies to the EU must not to be used as a political tool.
Debate. During the debate on Wednesday 8 June ahead of the vote on the resolution, EU Commissioner Stefan Füle (standing in for Catherine Ashton) said that the EU's relations with Russia had improved over the past two years, but a number of issues remained outstanding, particularly democratic development and human rights. The upcoming Duma elections would provide an opportunity to see whether Russia wants to build on the democratisation process, he said. Füle mentioned Russia's suspension of imports of fresh vegetables from the EU following the E.coli poisonings. The EU would not be raising what he described as an unjustified ban at the summit but hoped that the issue would be resolved rapidly among experts. On energy, he said the EU would be stressing the reforms needed in the gas and electricity markets and tight nuclear safety standards. Several MEPs noted the importance of the Duma elections, from which no parties should be excluded and which should be monitored by freely accepted observers. Likewise, Russia is urged to take on board the discipline inherent in WTO membership and stop using energy as a political weapon. Many investors complain about legal uncertainty in Russia, explained Austria's Johannes Swoboda (S&D). Russia is an important, but difficult, partner, said other MEPs like British Conservative Charles Tannock, who commented: “Whether we like it or not, we must engage with the Bear.” (H.B./L.G./transl.fl)