Brussels, 05/10/2005 (Agence Europe) - The EU-Russia Summit in London on 4 October endorsed the visa facilitation and readmission agreements that have been on the negotiating table for several months. On Monday, the General Affairs and External Relations Council agreed on the compromise solution on the remaining items negotiated by the British Presidency in the last few days (see EUROPE 9040). Both agreements will now be initialled at the Permanent Partnership Council of justice and interior ministers in Luxembourg on 13 October.
The EU-Russia Summit was hosted by Tony Blair, the prime minister of the UK in his capacity as President of the European Council, assisted by the Secretary General/EU High Representative Javier Solana, and the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso. The Russian Federation was led by the Russian President Vladimir Putin. The meeting focussed on the practical implementation of the roadmaps for the four Common Spaces as agreed at the previous EU-Russia Summit, namely the Common Economic Space; the Common Space of Freedom, Security and Justice; the Common Space on External Security; and the Common Space on Research, Education and Culture. With regard to the Common Economic Space, which has the overall objective of bringing down barriers to trade and investment and promoting reforms and competitiveness, based on the principles of non-discrimination, transparency and good governance, the leaders noted the importance of World Trade Organisation (WTO) accession for Russia 'as a factor in establishing these core principles in Russia'. The leaders focussed especially on closer EU-Russian cooperation in the energy sphere (see EUROPE 9041). Half all the gas and almost a third of all the oil consumed in the EU25 either comes from, or transits through, Russia. At a press conference after the Summit, Tony Blair downplayed fears that Europe might become over-dependent on oil and gas imports from Russia, saying he didn't believe either Russia or the EU were dependent on each other - it was more a recognition of mutual interests. Blair said Europe was pursuing the reasonable objective of trying to ensure its future energy supplies and solve problems like crime and terrorism, where it has common interests with Russia. Vladimir Putin said talk about the EU losing its economic independence was exaggerated. Russia, he said, was a reliable partner in energy supplies and had always increased its oil production levels and supported the global economy, including Europe, by helping it to keep oil prices down. The EU and Russia had entered a new phase in their strategic energy cooperation, he explained, with Russia deciding to authorise its European partners to get involved in gas production in Russia. The EU, he said, had made reciprocal concessions by helping Russia access EU distribution networks, including the electricity grid. Together, said Putin, we are planning to launch large-scale infrastructure projects and build a North-European gas pipeline.
In the Common Space on External Security, the EU briefed Russia on the latest EU plans for the border assistance mission in Moldova and expressed concerns about the situation in Belarus and Uzbekistan (where the EU is applying sanctions, see EUROPE 9040). The leaders of the EU and Russia addressed in a constructive spirit internal developments in the EU and Russia, including the situation in Chechnya, explains a press release. They also discussed a raft of international issues of strategic importance, including Iran, the Balkans and the Middle-East Peace Process, but the outcome of these discussions was not discussed at the final press conference or in press releases. Russia and the EU decided this time not to publish a joint statement (standard practice after EU-Russia Summits). Addressing reporters, Tony Blair stressed the importance the EU attaches to boosting its Strategic Partnership with Russia, wanting to take relations with Russia to a new, more intense, level. One thing is certain, he said, whether on Iran, the Middle East peace process or any other issue concerning the Russian Federation's neighbours, it is obvious that we need to have a close working relationship. Vladimir Putin said the outcome of the London Summit demonstrated that the EU and Russia were continuing to strengthen their partnership, both in terms of substance and in terms of quality.