Brussels, 09/05/2007 (Agence Europe) - The German Presidency of the EU and the European Commission have not yet lost hope that the EU/Russia Summit, which is due to take place in Samara on 18 May, will give the political kick-off to the opening of negotiations on a new partnership agreement between the EU and Russia, even though there is nothing at this stage to indicate that the obstacle of the Russian embargo on Polish meat can be lifted in time. On Wednesday afternoon, at a debate at a plenary session of the European Parliament on preparations for the Summit with Moscow, the German Secretary of State for European Affairs, Günter Gloser, explained that the German Presidency of the EU was continuing to do all in its power to seek a solution to the problem of the Polish meat. “Russia must give a date for the embargo to be lifted”, said Mr Gloser. This would be an “important signal for the future” of bilateral relations. The opening of the negotiations on reinforcing this strategic partnership “cannot fail over a technical issue”, stressed Mr Gloser. Speaking on behalf of the European Commission, vice-president Günter Verheugen laid emphasis on the considerable and intensive efforts made by the Commission to resolve the issue of the Russian embargo, “which is unjustified”, and which must be lifted. “We anticipate a clear signal and a clear timetable from Russia for this to be lifted, possibly in several stages”, said Mr Verheugen.
The possible opening of the negotiations on a new partnership agreement is, however, not the only important subject on the agenda of the Summit, Mr Gloser explained, laying emphasis also on the importance of going into greater depth with the energy partnership, particularly by establishing an early warning system in case of problems with energy supply (EUROPE 9417). Climate change is another area which will be discussed at Samara, particularly as the EU needs Russia and other global industrial partners if it hopes to achieve its objective of reducing CO2 emissions by 20% (or 30%, if an international agreement is in place) by 2020.
During the debate which followed the declarations of the Council and the Commission, it was mainly democratic developments and the alarming situation of fundamental freedoms (particularly press freedom and the right to assembly) in Russia which featured as a central point of the debates. Recent events in Estonia and around the Estonian Embassy in Moscow regarding the row over plans to move a Soviet monument in the Estonian capital was also raised by many of those who took the floor (see article below).
In the view of Joseph Daul (EPP-ED), Europe must adopt an “attitude of openness and dialogue” with Moscow, which is a “strategic partner”, but nor must it hesitate to raise issues of human rights and liberties. Recent developments in Russia are serious and of great concern, said Mr Daul, referring, amongst other things, to Moscow's attitude in the case of the bronze soldier monument which has been moved in Tallin (see article below), and the murders of a number of journalists. It is very important that pressure be brought to bear on President Vladimir Putin, in order to ensure that the forthcoming parliamentary and presidential elections are free and democratic, stressed Jan Wiersma (PES), who stressed that the EU “cannot allow Russian opposition to be locked out”. The leader of the ALDE group, Graham Watson, went even further: in the face of “Russian intimidation”, there can be no “business as usual”; Russia must know how far it can go, “but up to now, Mr Gloser and Mr Verheugen, all we have heard from you have been fair words, but no action”, stated Mr Watson, who openly pleaded for the Summit to be postponed. Daniel Cohn-Bendit (Greens-EFA) stated his view that Russia wants to operate the same “policy of power” as the USSR, by using energy instruments. This does not mean that the EU should not have political relations with Russia, as the Union has with other non-democratic countries, such as Saudi Arabia, but the EU must understand that this relationship cannot be based on dialogue and friendship, as it claims is the case by talking about strategic partnership, he said. (hb)