EU-Rusland top: overzicht van de uitkomsten (en)

The twenty-fourth EU-Russia Summit took place in Stockholm on 18 November 2009 under the Swedish Presidency of the EU Council. The EU and Russia discussed the development of their strategic partnership, focussing on climate change, the economic and financial crisis, energy and EU-Russia relations. Talks were held in an open and constructive atmosphere.

The EU was represented by Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, the President of the European Commission, Mr José Manuel Barroso, and the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Dr Javier Solana. The Russian delegation was led by President Dmitry Medvedev.

Constructive Russian contribution

The EU noted Russia's important role in making the Kyoto Protocol possible, and expressed its hope for a constructive and substantial Russian contribution at the upcoming climate summit in Copenhagen, recalling that the increase in the global average temperature must not exceed two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Russia expressed its readiness to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by between 22 and 25 percent by 2020. The parties discussed the importance of energy efficiency in addressing climate change as well as the possibility of involving big business in Russia and the EU in the fight against climate change.

Avoid protectionism

Recalling shared commitments from the G-20 summit in Pittsburgh, the parties underlined that policies aimed at countering the financial and economic crisis must avoid protectionism and be in line with commitments entered into by the G-20. The parties also discussed reform of the international financial system, as well as the possibility of launching a Partnership on modernisation between the EU and Russia. In this context, the EU underlined its continuing support for Russia's accession to the World Trade Organisation, and raised bilateral trade issues in view of the planned entry into force of a customs union between Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan on 1 January, 2010. The Summit also took note of progress in the negotiations on a new EU-Russia Agreement.

Co-operation and progress

The EU and Russia stressed the need for continued, constructive co-operation on energy, including energy security. They welcomed the recent signature between European Commissioner for Energy Andris Piebalgs and Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko of a Memorandum on an Enhanced Early Warning Mechanism.

The EU and Russia discussed a broad range of issues under the EU-Russia common spaces. They exchanged views on human rights, the rule of law and democracy. They also discussed progress in the EU-Russia visa dialogue, recalling that visa freedom was a long term perspective.

The parties agreed to launch expert talks aimed at the conclusion of a framework agreement on co-operation in crisis management operations, recalling the positive experience in this regard in Chad/CAR.

The Summit welcomed the signature of five agreements launching Cross Border Co-operation Programmes between the EU and Russia. The agreements represent a new phase of co-operation, in a spirit of true partnership, equality and co-financing, between regional and local actors across the European Union's border with Russia.

Regional and international issues

The EU and Russia discussed security and stability in their common neighbourhood, and agreed to work together in pursuing a peaceful resolution of protracted conflicts. The EU called on Russia to fully comply with its commitments following the August 2008 war in Georgia, and to implement the agreements of 12 August and 8 September. The parties also discussed a number of international and regional issues, including talks on European security, the Iranian nuclear issue, Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Western Balkans and the Middle East Peace Process.