EU-Russia Summit in Helsinki, November 24, 2006.

[nodular]

from:

Finland's EU Presidency

http://www.eu2006.fi/news_and_documents/press_releases/vko47/en_GB/175543/






"Flows of trade and investment between the EU and Russia are steadily increasing. Joint action to improve the business and investment environment must continue, in order to exploit the full potential of economic relations. Energy cooperation between the EU and Russia is based on a positive interdependence. The energy sector needs to function in a transparent, predictable way, based on reciprocity. The partners expressed their satisfaction with the Environment Partnership Council in October and the environmental dialogue which it strengthened and which will pave the way for comprehensive cooperation on environmental matters.

"With regard to the common space of freedom, security and justice, the leaders attached the utmost importance to ensuring rapid implementation of agreements on visa facilitation and readmission of people found to be illegally on the territory of the other party. They also expressed a desire for closer cooperation on countering common security threats, such as terrorism and organised crime. The EU stressed the need to respect human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law in all areas of cooperation.

"The EU and Russia highlighted the importance of direct contacts between citizens as a basis for the strategic partnership. This kind of interaction can be promoted in educational and cultural sectors in particular. Cooperation between higher education institutions and student exchanges between the EU and Russia have been strongly emphasised during the autumn. This is also a priority for the future.

"The Summit did not yet agree to launch negotiations for a new framework agreement between the EU and Russia. The EU does not yet have a mandate needed to start negotiations. As the holder of Presidency, Finland will continue work to enable the mandate to be adopted as soon as possible and to launch negotiations on a new framework agreement. The existing Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) will be valid until a new agreement comes into force."

Anyone have any thoughts on this? Can the EU play a constructive, "linking" role between the US and Russia? It seems possible.