Rusland wil meer overleg met EU inzake defensie en veiligheid (en)

Russia has demanded to be more involved in EU defence and security decisions - a call rebuffed by French foreign minister Michel Barnier, according to French daily Le Monde.

On the occasion of a Franco-Russia co-operation council on defence, Moscow said it has felt increasingly isolated from questions of European security and defence since the enlargement of the EU to ten, mostly ex-Communist, countries in May 2004.

Russia said it would like EU-Russia relations on this issue in the same vein as the transatlantic alliance, in which NATO and Russia are considered equal partners.

However, French foreign minister Michel Barnier emphasised that, although Europe was prepared to involve Russia in joint operations, European defence depends on European decisions.

This should not prevent "reinforced" co-operation between Moscow and Brussels, added Mr Barnier, especially in the fight against terrorism and working together to solve the problems of Iran and its alleged nuclear programme.