The launch of negotiations for a new agreement with Russia, preparations for the forthcoming EU-Russia Summit, and international issues will be high on the agenda when Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner visits Moscow on 3 and 4 June. In addition to meetings with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin and Foreign Minister Sergeij Lavrov, Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner will address Members of the Duma and representatives of the European business community.

European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner said: "Today we have the opportunity to give a new impetus to our strategic partnership with Russia. I am looking forward to working with the new Russian administration to build a new framework for EU Russia relations in line with the growing scope of our co operation together".

Russia is an important partner with which there is considerable interest to engage and build a strategic partnership. Russia is the EU’s largest neighbour, brought even closer to the EU by the 2004 enlargement. The 2003 European Security Strategy correctly situates Russia as a key player on geo-political and security issues at global and regional level. Russia is a key actor in the UN Security Council and has significant influence in our common European neighbourhood and in Central Asia. In addition, Russia is also a major supplier of energy products to the EU with considerable potential for growth.

The EU’s main objective is to engage with Russia to build a genuine strategic partnership, founded on common interests and shared values to which both sides are committed in the relevant international organisations such as the UN, Council of Europe, and OSCE, as well as with each other in the bilateral Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. These interests and values include in particular democracy, human rights, the rule of law, and market economy principles.

The EU has a strong and genuine interest to work together with Russia to foster political, social and economic stability in Russia, in the region and worldwide. The EU and Russia have every reason to step up cooperation in these areas as well as to engage in many other areas, including cooperation in the Southern Caucasus and the western NIS in light of the development of the EU’s  European Neighbourhood Policy, and on international issues such as the fight against terrorism and organised crime.

EU relations with Russia draw on a large spectrum of particular EU policies, including external policies like the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and trade policy; the external aspects of general EU policies such as on energy, transport, environment, etc.; the external dimension of freedom/security/justice activities; and the principles retained for development cooperation and assistance.

What is the European Neighbourhood Policy?

The European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) was developed in 2004, with the objective of avoiding the emergence of new dividing lines between the enlarged EU and our neighbours and instead strengthening the prosperity, stability and security of all concerned. In this way, it also addresses the strategic objectives set out in the December 2003  European Security Strategy.