Persbericht naar aanleiding van de top EU-Rusland (en)

The twentieth EU-Russia Summit took place today in Mafra. It was a friendly and open meeting during which the leaders welcomed the ongoing work on the practical implementation of the Road Maps for the Four Common Spaces and discussed future perspectives for our relations.

Notwithstanding all the progress achieved in EU-Russia relations in the last ten years (the current Partnership and Cooperation Agreement has been in force since 1997) it is clear for both Parties that further deepening of our strategic partnership would be mutually beneficial.

The EU noted that this was the first Summit taking place after agreement on the Reform Treaty was reached in the Intergovernmental Conference that recently took place in Lisbon.

In the Common Economic Space, the EU and Russia noted the wide range of areas where progress has been made and the areas where greater efforts are needed. In particular, they stressed the importance of the investment dialogue and of the energy early warning mechanism for strengthening mutual cooperation and increasing understanding between both Parties.

The EU encouraged Russia to undertake the necessary steps to solve the remaining obstacles to WTO accession.

The EU stressed the importance of climate change and the need to give continuity to cooperation in this area.

In the Common Space of Freedom, Security and Justice, the leaders welcomed the entry into force of the visa facilitation and readmission agreements and underlined the importance of their full implementation. In this regard, they also welcomed the recent start of the visa dialogue. The Permanent Partnership Council on Justice and Home Affairs, in November, will be an occasion for further discussion of the issues covered by this Common Space.

The EU also noted the results of the sixth round of EU-Russia Human Rights consultations, held in Brussels on 3 October, and looked forward to further regular rounds of consultations in the future.

In the Common Space on External Security, the leaders stressed the cooperation in the common neighbourhood. They reiterated the importance both the EU and the Russian Federation attach to effective multilateralism.

The leaders took note of progress in the Common Space on Research, Education and Culture, and welcomed in particular the holding of the first Permanent Partnership Council on Culture on the eve the Summit.

They also discussed a wide range of international issues of strategic importance: the situation in Burma, Kosovo, Iran, Afghanistan and the Middle East Peace Process.

The leaders witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the European Monitoring Centre of Drugs and Drugs Addiction and Russia as well as the signing of an Agreement on Trade in certain Steel Products.

The leaders noted the outcome of the Industrialists' Round Table held on the eve of the summit.

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The EU was represented by Mr. José SOCRATES, Prime Minister of Portugal, in his capacity as President of the European Council, and the President of the European Commission, Mr. José Manuel BARROSO. The President of the European Council was assisted by the Secretary-General/High Representative, Dr. Javier SOLANA, and accompanied by the Minister of State and Foreign Affairs of Portugal, Mr. Luís AMADO, and the Secretary of State for European Affairs, Mr. Manuel LOBO ANTUNES. The President of the European Commission was accompanied by Mrs. Benita FERRERO-WALDNER, Commissioner for External Relations, and Mr. Peter MANDELSON, Commissioner for Trade.

The Russian Federation was represented by Mr. Vladimir PUTIN, President of the Russian Federation, accompanied by Mr. Sergey LAVROV, Foreign Minister, Mrs. Elvira NABIULLINA, Minister for Economic Development and Trade and Mr. Sergey YASTRZHEMBSKIY, Special Representative for development of relations with the European Union.

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