Brussels, 30/06/2008 (Agence Europe) - In an interview with French newspaper La Croix on the fringes of the EU-Russia summit in Khanty-Mansiisk, Russia, on 27 June 2008, EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson stressed the importance of both the EU and Russia respecting their own legislation. Mandelson said that the suspicions of politicisation on either side had to be rejected, focussing on broad negotiation of all energy issues - mutual security for supply and demand, opening up to investment from either side, freedom of transit and non-discrimination in accessing gas and oil pipelines. The trade commissioner called for these principles to be set out in the next EU-Russia partnership agreement, the negotiation of which will be launched on 4 July 2008 (see EUROPE 9692), and for this to be set out in greater detail in a free trade agreement to be negotiated when Russia joins the World Trade Organisation. Referring to the controversial Nordstream gas pipeline plan for the Baltic Sea, and the importance of several sources of supply to ensure secure supplies for consuming countries, Mandelson pointed out that it was important for energy exporting countries to receive guarantees of security of demand. He noted that the basis for broad negotiations was certainly in place, with the aim of providing clarification of rules and contracts. Asked whether the main obstacle to such clarification was giant Russian gas company Gazprom, Peter Mandelson replied that it was not for the EU to tell Russia how it should run various Russian companies but it was a fact that if Gazprom wanted to increase its operational presence in the EU, it would of course have to accept the policies and legal framework established by the EU for the energy industry, in the same way that EU companies present in Russia had to respect Russian regulations. Relations between the EU and Russia were built on this mutual respect, added Mandelson, adding that clear, transparent rules were required for this. (E.H./transl.fl)