Brussels, 25/05/2005 (Agence Europe) - The EP debate on the report by Cecilia Malmström (ALDE, Sweden) on EU/Russia relations demonstrated on Wednesday again demonstrated the democratic deficit in Russia and the absence of a political solution in Chechnya weighing down on the possibilities of deepening future relations with Moscow. Nobody questioned the importance of Russia as a “strategic partner” with which the EU should not only share economic and trade interests but also the objective of acting together on the international scent to ensure peace, stability and security, to fight against international terrorism and tackle environmental problems etc. Many MEPs called on the EU to put more pressure on Moscow to compel president Putin to respect democratic rules and the rule of law. The report will be voted on Thursday and underlines the democratic deficits that affect both the Russian people and the country's foreign relations which “as long as this evolution is not reversed, development in the EU-Russia partnership will remain difficult”. The report also indicates concerns about the discrimination against certain ethnic groups (such as the Mari people) and anti-Semitic demonstrations in Russia. On behalf of the Luxembourg presidency Nicolas Schmit welcomed the “important results” of the EU/Russia summit of 10 Mazy in Moscow (notably the adoption of road maps for implementing the four common spaces: (EUROPE 8944). Schmit declared that, “we agree with the objective of evolving towards a Great Europe (as pointed out by president Putin: Editor's note) but on the conditions that it is based on the democratic principles and values we defend”. Schmit pointed out that the EU and Russia began a dialogue last April on human and minority rights, “a dialogue which should be constructive and which should be continued as an active and important element in our partnership”. Malström called on Moscow to stop thinking in “terms of spheres of influence” and to stop interfering in the affairs of neighbouring states out of fear or seeing democratic movements developing which could reduce Russia's influence. She said that, “Putin and Russia have to understand that neighbouring countries are no longer part of their sphere of influence, as those who are searching for stability and security today, no longer look to Moscow but towards the EU”. German Green Milan Horacek said that Russia was very important for Europe's stability and that they wanted to cooperate together “but this should be done in respect of certain values”. He added that “even if the EU depends on Russia for energy, this is not a reason to neglect our values…which are currently under threat in Russia”. He affirmed that some Russian leaders behaving like “predators”. Armin Laschet (CDU) while sharing these criticisms warned against a too severe attitude to Russia which “is not a candidate country…the report we're discussing today is not the Commission's regular report on candidate countries”, adding that the EU should not overplay its “school master” role. EUROPE will be returning to the debate and vote.