Brussels, 10/06/2011 (Agence Europe) - The EU-Russia summit at Nizhny Novgorod closed on Friday 10 June with at least one tangible success: Russia's suspension of imports of fresh vegetables from the EU will be lifted as soon as the Commission can provide the Russian authorities with certification guaranteeing that produce for export to Russia poses no danger to consumer health. “We have agreed that the ban on vegetables from the European Union will be lifted, that the system of certification of vegetable safety by the European Commission will be put in place without any delay and details of this certification will be finalised as soon as possible with the Russian Federation services and the European Commission services”, Commission President José Manuel Barroso told press after the summit. Russian President Dmitri Medvedev confirmed that his country was ready to resume imports from the EU “in the near future” provided he was given “guarantees”. According to Barroso, the problem could be resolved very speedily. “We intend to submit certificates today or tomorrow to the Russian authorities”, he said.
Strategic partners. For the rest, the summit provided the opportunity for both parties to reaffirm the “strategic” importance of EU-Russia relations. “Our partnership is bearing fruit. Like trusted friends, we speak frankly and constructively, including on topics where there may be some differences - because our interdependence is a reality.”
Human rights. One of the areas where the two sides have differing viewpoints is on democracy, the rule of law and human rights. At the closing press conference, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy raised this issue to remind his hosts that the Russian record on human rights was “an important element in shaping its European public opinion”. Member states and European public opinion “still have strong concerns” over the human rights situation in Russia, he added. The EU will keep a careful watch over the legislative elections (in December) and presidential elections (in March of next year) and hopes that international rules and requirements in terms of political pluralism will be met, Van Rompuy added. He also expressed the hope that Russia would invite the OSCE to observe these elections. Barroso, too, placed great store on the rule of law and the role of civil society. He welcomed the independent EU-Russian civil society forum set up in March of this year, and asked the Russian authorities to support it. Civil society has a major role to play in modernising Russia, he said.
Visa liberalisation. As expected (see EUROPE 10393), it proved impossible for the summit to approve the “common steps”, that is, the list of specific steps to be taken by each of the parties to move gradually towards the removal of visa requirements. While progress has been made in discussions among experts, there still remains “a huge amount of work to do”, Medvedev stated. He is hopeful, nevertheless, that the “common steps” will be ready by the end of June.
WTO accession. “We believe that Russian WTO accession is still possible this year”, assuming the EU and Russia reach “an agreement at the political level before the summer holidays”, an agreement which includes issues such as quotas, health and plant health measures, and the investment regime for the automotive industry, Barroso said. Russia is “fed up” seeing negotiations drag on for 17 years, it is time for them to be concluded, Medvedev stated, calling on the EU to do all in its power to make this possible before the end of the year. We need the WTO, but the members of the WTO also need us, the Russian president said.
Crisis management. The potential of EU-Russian cooperation in this vital CFSP area is far from being fully realised, said Van Rompuy, expressing the hope that a “Framework Agreement on Crisis Management” can be negotiated by the end of this year.
Middle East, North Africa. Both Russia and the EU, members of the Quartet, urged the resumption of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians and called for a Quartet ministerial meeting to be convened in the very near future. On Libya, both sides shared the view that “Gaddafi must go” to open the way to the democratisation and modernisation of the country. However, not a word at the press conference was uttered on Syria. The EU repeated its commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia, the secession of Abkhazia and South Ossetia from which has been recognised by Russia. (H.B./transl.rt)