EU to discuss Free Trade Agreement with Russia[fr] 

The Commission has adopted recommendations to start negotiations on a new agreement with Russia as of 2007 in view of replacing the current Partnership and Cooperation Agreement , which will expire on 30 November 2007. 

According to Commission spokespersons, trade and energy will represent a significant part of the future agreement, which will also cover all other aspects of the EU-Russia relationship, including issues relating to democracy, human rights, migration issues and external security cooperation. 

The establishment of a preferential trade pact is not directly called for in the mandate adopted by the Commission, but President Barroso confirmed the Commission’s intention to move towards an FTA once Russia gets the OK for joining the World Trade Organisation. 

Russia’s accession to the WTO has been slowed by disagreement with the EU regarding overflight charges that western European airlines have to pay when crossing Siberia en route to Japan and China. The EU insists that such charges are unjustified. 

The announcement of the negotiation of a trade pact with Russia follows recent decisions to start bilateral trade talks with the 10 Members of ASEAN, as well as with Ukraine, South Korea and India, in an apparent move towards a more bilateral trade policy at a time when the conclusion of multilateral trade talks in the WTO are faltering.