Limited progress. The need to appease relations between the EU and Russia (see this column in EUROPE 11156) is not only being confirmed, but it is also partly starting to take shape, particularly as regards Ukraine's problems. Admittedly, it's not a lot in view of the negative measures which subsist, but dialogue has been partially resumed. Furthermore, a few forms of cooperation have been maintained in the industrial field (with Germany) and in energy. Russia is also necessarily involved in certain significant aspects of the implementation of the new EU-Ukraine association agreement.
A number of aspects of EU-Russia relations continue, however, to be governed by the disastrous regime of reciprocal reprisals, which are ruinous to both sides.
The agricultural disaster. The most spectacular case is currently that of agricultural products. The European Parliament has tackled this issue on a number of occasions, most recently this week (see EUROPE 11156). The MEPs noted that one third of the EU's agricultural and food exports “disappeared overnight”, simply because Russia, the world's second-largest importer, suspended its purchases, in an excessive act of tit-for-tat. However, the European Parliament debate did not look into the possibility that agricultural trade will resume; it went no further than to call for extra aid for the European producers. All aspects of current support should be extended, the MEPs argue, through special support under the Community budget. Not the easiest of exercises, because the next annual budget of the EU is likely to be an especially rigorous one…
It is certainly true that some of the repercussions of Moscow's decisions have been considerable. This Thursday, the Belgian daily newspaper Le Soir devoted an entire page to the plummeting prices of apples and pears in the EU, to the great despair of the producers. At first sight, European purchasers are benefiting from lower prices, but “we could never consume the enormous quantities which were exported to Russia at home”. Indeed, the harvest will be abandoned and thousands of tonnes will simply rot on the trees. A trivial matter for the politicians, but absolutely disastrous for the farmers.
Positive signs? There are, however, a few signs to indicate that a gradual normalisation of EU-Russia relations is possible, in full respect of international standards. The EU has asked the World Trade Organisation (WTO, of which Russia is a member) to ban the anti-dumping duty Moscow has brought in on light utility vehicles from Germany and Italy (see EUROPE 11156). The EU is demanding that Russia stick to the duty rules, if Moscow wants to lay claim to protection for its own trade against restrictions elsewhere. On the ground, several European industrial figures are demonstrating the fact that they have every confidence in the application of these rules - for instance, the chairman of Renault Russia recently announced the launch of new models produced in that country. And Friday's Le Soir ran a full page on the car sector in Russia, entitled “A promising market”.
However, differences of a military nature subsist. The gradual easing of the situation in several areas must not, however, detract from the mistrust and obstacles which exist in the military arena. Moreover, developments are underway in and around Ukraine, where dramatic differences of opinion have led to war. And the recent compromises between Kiev and Moscow are by no means clear. The Ukrainian prime minister, Mr Yatsenyuk, said that the association agreement he has signed with the EU represents his country's first step towards accession, a development which does not, in actual fact, tie in with Brussels' plans. Furthermore, and in particular, the EU's orientations in the military field are largely uncertain. NATO is doing its job by laying emphasis on the need for the EU to safeguard and improve its military efficiency, but at the same time, the Community institutions (with the European Parliament and Council out in front) are particularly concerned with economic recovery and the tricky budgetary balance to be struck. However, the authorities responsible for military issues are calling for reinforcements.
Our news action covers all of these aspects, through this daily bulletin and our publication Europe Diplomacy & Defence, which provides news and commentary about NATO activities. It would appear vital, and is in fact expected, that the EU institutions hold joint meetings before the end of the year, so that the authorities with political responsibility for the various areas get together to take stock of the overall situation. Orientations which are fundamental to the future of Europe must be defined at all levels.
Not forgetting the fact that for the citizens, the priority of the European bloc was - and remains - an end to war forever.
(FR)