Brussels, 09/02/2004 (Agence Europe) - On Monday evening (the programme for its weekly meeting had to be reshuffled given the anticipated communication on the financial perspectives: Ed), the European Commission was to debate and, theoretically, adopt a communication on the "revised" relations between the EU and Russia. It was by request of the Council and further to the EU/Russia Summit of 7 November, where the conduct of the President of the European Council, Silvio Berlusconi, came in for criticism (see Europe of 18 November, p.8), that the Commission decided to re-evaluate relations overall between the EU and Russia, and to make proposals for more effective dialogue with Moscow. As we announced (EUROPE of 6 February, p.14), the objective is better preparation of future EU/Russia Summits, to avoid a repeat performance of what happened under the Italian Presidency, defend a single voice on Europe's position on all dossiers, including the most sensitive ones such as Chechnya.
The Commission is likely to propose internal measures (better co-ordination between the various Commission departments), and external ones (efforts to justify the EU's positions towards Russia). Efforts will also be called for from the Russian side. This document will be discussed initially at the External Relations and General Affairs Council of 23 and 24 February, during which Javier Solana, High Representative for CFSP, may make a contribution, spoken or written, on aspects of EU/Russia relations linked to the EU's foreign and security policy (CFSP).