Strasbourg, 15/01/2015 (Agence Europe) - High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini is proposing that member states have “selective and gradual” cooperation with Russia on international issues, trade relations and certain sectoral areas.
In a (leaked) document to member states ahead of the Foreign Affairs Council on 19 January, Mogherini wants to provide “food for thought” on how the EU could engage with Russia “in the short to medium term”. In Mogherini's view, the process should be “selective and gradual, and commensurate with the degree to which Russia responds positively”.
The four-page document published by the Financial Times says that there are “significant interests on each side which can be in conflict, but which can serve as the basis for trade-offs and involve a give-and-take approach”. In Mogherini's opinion, the EU could plan on relaunching the political dialogue with Russia on big international issues such as Syria, Iraq, Libya, Iran, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, North Korea or the Ebola virus. On 8 January, she highlighted a “different Russian attitude”, which is open and constructive, on international subjects.
Mogherini suggests launching an internal study that would analyse the options and limitations for the different EU trade relations with Russia and the wider region, including an analysis of the implications of the possible establishment of relations with the Eurasian Economic Union (Russia, Armenia, Kazakhstan and Belarus). She also highlights a dialogue or cooperation on visas, energy, climate change or “a partial resumption of cooperation under the Partnership for Modernisation”.
Mogherini also suggests further examining the initiatives that aim to strengthen the resistance of the EU and its neighbours “to future Russian pressure, intimidation and manipulation”. She warns that this does not mean business as usual and that the measures would be “closely linked to full implementation of the Minsk agreements” and the “good faith” of Russia in implementing the agreements on the EU-Ukraine trade agreement and on the supply of Russian gas to Ukraine. Each decision concerning bilateral relations with Russia would have the objective of increasing the EU's leverage for promoting its interests, “starting with peace in its neighbourhood”, she also states.
Mogherini states in the document that a distinction should be made between the sanctions imposed after the annexation of Crimea and those connected to the violence in Eastern Ukraine - measures which the EU should be “ready to scale down (…) as soon as Russia implements the Minsk agreements”. She also warns that if there is no “measurable and significant” progress from Russia, these sanctions would remain in force “for an extended period of time”.
Relations with Russia will be discussed at the Foreign Affairs Council on 19 January and at the European Council in March. (CG)