Syria, passenger data dominate EU-Russia Summit

EU leaders met Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday for the 31st EU-Russia Summit. 

The 2 day-discussions were overshadowed by strong disagreements over the conflict in Syria, where Russia supports the regime of Bashar al-Assad.

Brussels is helping organise a peace conference on Syria in Geneva later this month.

'We also exchanged opinions on international issues like the Syrian question. Let me reiterate that we believe for our part that any attempts of direct military interference or influencing the situation by force will entail great consequences. Definitely we gave our assessment of the decision of the EU to lift embargo', said Russian president Vladimir Putin.

'The EU has no doubts that only a political solution trough negotiation will bring back peace to Syria and the region', said European Council President Herman Van Rompuy.

Moscow is also hoping to eventually secure visa-free travel to Europe,. However, differences over what role should have Russian gas giant Gazprom in the European Market still remain.

The EU energy market – the world's largest - offers important business opportunities to Russian companies, and Russia will of course remain a very important energy supplier to Europe.

'Definitely, there are some outstanding and pending issues here as well, I will not mention them now, they are well known but we are in contact with on and another and we will look for and find a mutual admissible solution.

Brussels also opposes a new Russian law that would require European airlines to transfer passenger data for flights to Russian airports, as it raises privacy concerns.