Tag: eu-russia relations

Former European Commission President Romano Prodi and former Austrian Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer co-chaired a public event in Brussels yesterday (17 June), with both arguing that agreement of the EU-Ukraine Association agreement at the Vilnius summit in November would serve the EU’s interests.

Despite increased interest in staging EU-Russia informal summits such as the one held in Moscow last month (21-22 March), deep differences remain, said Russian ambassador to the EU in an exclusive interview with EurActiv. Divisions persist particularly over the UK-French attempt to lift the arms embargo on Syrian rebels. He warns that such an action would breach the terms of the EU’s own declaration on arms supply.

Europeans are dismayed by Russia's recently-adopted recycling fee on car imports, arguing the measure is a protectionist law under the guise of environmental "recycling".

In a major speech at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, also known as “the Russian Davos”, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he had appointed an ombudsman to help Western entrepreneurs.

The EU should first put its own house in order before proceeding to pompous statements that demonise other leaders, such as Vladimir Putin, argues N. Peter Kramer for the European business review.

No matter whether Vladimir Putin or Dmitry Medvedev will be president of Russia after 2012, recent developments suggest there will be a genuine positive shift in the country's policy towards the EU, writes Denis Maksimov, an expert on EU-Russia relations, in an opinion piece sent exclusively to EurActiv.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is hosting EU leaders today (1 June) for a summit aimed at putting aside past differences and focusing on reviving trade and boosting troubled economies.

"It seems that the strategic interests of most EU countries versus Russia are actually similar," write Adam Balcer, Adam Jasser and Paweł Świeboda of the Polish foundation 'Demos EUROPA' in a November paper analysing the task facing new EU High Representative Catherine Ashton in winning the confidence of Europe's citizens.

Growing tensions in EU-Russia dialogue are inevitable as Russia's developing economic, military and energy resource strength lends it a much stronger bargaining position in international relations than in the past, according to Piotr Dutkiewicz, director of the Institute of European and Russian Studies at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. He spoke to EurActiv Slovakia in an interview.

EU foreign affairs ministers said they are prepared to open negotiations with Russia on a new Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) at their next meeting on 28 April, after agreeing on the wording of the mandate at their informal meeting in Brdo on 28-29 March.

The West and Russia should seek a new "grand bargain" to bridge their current differences, according to Charles Grant of the Centre for European Reform (CER).

A growing "crisis of confidence" threatens the Russian-European natural gas relationship but need not translate into a future supply "crisis", according to a new study by Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA).

Russia's suspension of its participation in the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) raises several questions about when a state can suspend its treaty obligations and the legal consequences of such actions, claims Duncan B. Hollis in a July article for the American Society of International Law (ASIL).

Russia’s "passive isolationism" is a dangerous part of the country's social mindset – and holds serious dangers for Europe, argue Grigory Yavlinsky – leader of the Yabloko party – and Victor Kogan-Yasny – its political advisor – in a July article for Europe's World.

The Estonian foreign minister has asked that the upcoming EU-Russia Summit be called off, following the dispute with Russia over the relocation of a Soviet-era wartime statue. The EU expressed its 'grave concern' following violent protests at the Estonian embassy in Moscow.

A deal on airspace access appeared to be of little importance as a Russian-Polish trade row lingered on and President Putin faced death-bed accusations from a former spy who died mysteriously in London.

Pipeline politics once again dominate EU-Russia relations as Poland threatens to veto the renewal of a 1997 agreement with Russia.

There was no breakthrough on energy at the European Summit in Lahti, Finland. But Russian President Vladimir Putin and EU leaders did emphasise their 'mutual dependence' and shared interest for 'predictability' in energy trade.

An agreement on the 1994 Energy Charter Treaty could take place at the EU-Russia energy conference in October, according to EU energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs.

Mikhail Kasyanov has called for a review of the Energy Charter Treaty's transit protocol which he sees as unfair to Russia, saying Moscow should in return loosen its grip on state-owned Gazprom.

The West should pressure Russia to adhere to the Energy Charter, argues Keith C. Smith, a senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Relations in Washington DC.