MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
17 November 2003
pursuant to Rule 37(2) of the Rules of Procedure
by Paavo Väyrynen, Ole Andreasen and Astrid Thors
on behalf of the ELDR Group
on the outcome of the 12th EU-Russia Summit (Rome, 6 November 2003)
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B5-0479/2003
B5‑0486/2003
European Parliament resolution on the outcome of the 12th EU-Russia Summit (Rome, 6 November 2003)
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on Russia,
– having regard to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and Russia, which entered into force on 1 December 1997,
– having regard to the Common Strategy of the EU on Russia dating from June 1999 and valid for a period of four years,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on Chechnya and most particularly to its resolutions of 10 April 2001 and 16 January 2003,
– having regard to its resolution of 21 November 2002 on the EU-Russia Summit of 11 November 2002 and its resolution of 11 July 2003 on the preparation of the EU-Russia Summit in St Petersburg,
– having regard to the Commission Communication of 11 March 2003 on Wider Europe - Neighbourhood: A New Framework for Relations with our Eastern and Southern Neighbours (COM(2003) 104),
– having regard to its report on wider Europe (A5-0378/2003),
– having regard to the Joint Statement of the 12th EU-Russia Summit, which took place in Rome on 6 November 2003,
A. whereas enhanced and comprehensive cooperation with Russia is of strategic importance for the achievement of stability and security in the whole of Europe,
B. whereas this 12th EU-Russia Summit was the last summit before the EU's historic enlargement becomes reality in May 2004,
C. whereas enlargement will extend the borders of the EU with Russia, thereby strengthening the ties between the two sides and underlining the need for good neighbourly cooperation and deeper cooperation,
D. whereas the predominance of selective cooperation (Common European Economic Space, energy dialogue, selective cooperation on political and security matters) and the absence of a comprehensive and long-term concept of bilateral relations are among the major obstacles to establishment of an effective and dynamic partnership by the EU and Russia,
E. whereas further development of the democratic process in Russia and Russia's integration in more comprehensive security structures are interrelated processes,
F. whereas further developments are needed in order to support the democratic process in Russia with regard in particular to common democratic values such as respect for human rights, and the rule of law, freedom of information and the media,
G. whereas recent events, in particular the attack on the Open Society Institute and on the opposition political parties, give rise to serious concerns as regards the forthcoming electoral campaign,
H. whereas the Common Strategy of the EU on Russia should be reviewed in 2004,
1. Takes note of the Joint Statement of the 12th EU-Russia Summit (Rome, 6 November);
2. Deeply regrets and expresses its concern that the Joint Statement excluded any references whatsoever to Chechnya and the Kyoto Protocol;
3. Emphasises that the violation of human rights in Chechnya arising from excessive or disproportionate use of military force and the absence of a political perspective for peace continues to be a problem for EU-Russia relations;
4. Welcomes the decision of the UK Magistrate's Court in London that the request of the Russian Federation for the extradition of the Chechen envoy Akhmed Zakayev should be declined on the grounds that Mr Zakayev's ethnicity and political beliefs made it likely that he would be tortured if returned to the Russian Federation and would not have been given a free and fair trial;
5. Sincerely hopes that the lack of a reference to the Kyoto Protocol in the Joint Statement does not indicate that the matter was ignored by the Summit;
6. Deplores the fact that the summit involved no discussions on the environment issues where EU and Russia share responsibility; states that one of the issues that should have been given high priority is the environmental threat to the Baltic Sea;
7. Urges the EU and Russia to develop common environmental standards as regards maritime safety; states that Russia must work together with the EU on phasing out single-hull tankers;
8. Stresses the importance of Russia's ratification and observance of the Espo Convention on Environmental Assessment in a Transboundary Context in order to develop effective environmental protection measures for the Baltic Sea; states that it is vital for all oil production in the Baltic Sea, irrespective of location, that an environmental impact assessment (EIA) be carried out; states that that EIA should be conducted according to international standards, be accessible to any other country and should also cover the establishment of new large-scale ports or extending the life of nuclear power plants;
9. Takes note with interest of the concept paper and the final report of the high level group on the Common European Economic Space as well as the 4th Progress Report on EU-Russia energy dialogue, the Joint Declaration on strengthening dialogue and cooperation on political and security matters and Russia's accession to the Bologna Process, which provides for the mutual recognition of diplomas;
10. Welcomes the signing of the agreement between the Russian Federation and Europol and looks to Russia to quickly conclude negotiations on an EU-Russia Readmission Agreement, to step up work against organised crime and to promote cooperation on border management, for which it is important that Russia sign and ratify border agreements with Estonia and Latvia;
11. Supports the strengthening of overall cross-border cooperation along the borders of the enlarged European Union with Russia, in particular with the Kaliningrad Oblast, as part of the Wider Europe - New Neighbourhood Policy;
12. Takes note of the long-term prospect of a visa-free travel regime between the EU and Russia and reciprocal visa facilitation;
13. Takes note of the tangible progress made in the field of creating a common space of external security, but calls on the Council and the Commission to discuss prospects for reinforced cooperation in crisis management, conflict prevention and civil protection within existing structures;
14. Calls on the government of Russia, in this regard, to implement the OSCE commitments on military withdrawal from the Trans-Dniester region of Moldova;
15. Calls on the Council and the Commission to step up cooperation to tackle common environmental challenges such as maritime and nuclear safety and invites the government of Russia to submit the Kyoto Protocol to the Duma for ratification as soon as possible;
16. Calls on the Council and the Commission to focus on the political prospects for a lasting peace in Chechnya as well as the need for Russia to facilitate the provision of humanitarian aid, to put an end to impunity by bringing to justice those responsible for grave abuses committed during this conflict and to protect internally displaced persons, as well as the cases of children abducted from EU Member States to Russia, which have been pending for years without any information for parents in EU Member States;
17. Calls also on the Council and the Commission to express their concern, once again, on the case of kidnapped Dutch 'Médecins Sans Frontières' aid worker Arjan Erkel;
18. Urges the Council and the Commission to clearly express their concern as regards opposition political parties' risk of being hindered in conducting a free and fair electoral campaign;
19. Calls on the Council and the Commission to restate the need for fair, non-discriminatory and proportional application of the law by the Russian authorities in the context of the Yukos case and insists that defendants must be granted due process so that they have a fair chance of defending themselves;
20. Invites the Council and the Commission to continue to support the implementation of judicial reforms in Russia since failure to respect these key principles would not only undermine the progress made in Russia to create a positive environment for the development of trade and investment by Russia and foreign companies, but could also hold back Russia's integration into a common European Economic Space;
21. Invites the Council and the Commission to include the issues of Chechnya, judicial reforms and respect for human rights and the rule of law in the next review of the common strategy of the EU on Russia in 2004;
22. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, and the President and Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.