MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

23.10.2007

to wind up the debate on statements by the Council and Commission
pursuant to Rule 103(2) of the Rules of Procedure
by Jan Marinus Wiersma, Hannes Swoboda and Reino Paasilinna
on behalf of the PSE Group
on the EU-Russia Summit in Mafra, 26 October 2007

B6‑0423/2007

European Parliament resolution on the EU-Russia Summit in Mafra, 26 October 2007

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Russian Federation, of the other part (PCA)[1], which entered into force in 1997 and expires in 2007,

–  having regard to the objective of the EU and Russia, set out in the joint statement issued following the St Petersburg Summit held on 31 May 2003, to set up a common economic space, a common space of freedom, security and justice, a common space of cooperation in the field of external security and a common space of research and education, including cultural aspects,

–  having regard to the EU-Russia human rights consultations,

–  having regard to its previous resolutions on EU relations with Russia, and in particular its resolution of 10 May 2007 on the EU-Russia Summit to be held in Samara on 18 May 2007 and its resolution of 19 June 2007 on EU economic and trade relations with Russia,

–  having regard to Rule 103(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.  whereas relations between the EU and Russia have been steadily developing over the past few years, leading to deep and comprehensive economic integration and interdependency, which is bound to increase even more in the near future,

B.  whereas enhanced cooperation and good-neighbourly relations between the EU and Russia are of key importance to the stability, security and prosperity of the whole of Europe,

C.  whereas the Russian Federation is a full member of the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe and has therefore committed itself to the principles of democracy and democratic elections laid down by these organisations,

D.  whereas there is serious concern about developments in the Russian Federation with regard to respect for and protection of human rights and to respect for commonly agreed democratic principles, rules and procedures, in particular with a view to the upcoming elections for the State Duma and the President of the Russian Federation,

E.  whereas the conclusion of a Strategic Partnership Agreement between the EU and the Russian Federation remains of the utmost importance for the further development and intensification of cooperation between the two partners,

F.  whereas it has not yet been possible to start the negotiations on such a new Strategic Partnership Agreement because of continuing problems with the export of Polish meat to the Russian Federation; whereas efforts are still being made to create the conditions for Russia to lift the ban on the import of Polish meat,

G.  whereas the rapid accession of the Russian Federation to the World Trade Organisation would make a substantial contribution to the further improvement of economic relations between Russia and the European Union,

H.  whereas the rapid implementation of the four common areas, with a common economic area, an area of freedom, security and justice, an area of external security and an area of research, education and culture, should be at the heart of the negotiations on the new Strategic Partnership Agreement,

I.  whereas security of energy supply is one of the biggest challenges for Europe and one of the major fields of cooperation with Russia; whereas joint efforts must be made to make full and efficient use of the energy transport systems, both those already existing and those to be further developed,

J.  whereas disputes over the conditions of supply and transport of energy should be resolved in a negotiated, non-discriminatory and transparent way and should never be used as an instrument for political pressure on EU Member States or the countries in the common neighbourhood,

K.  whereas a future agreement between the European Union and the Russian Federation should therefore include the principles of the Energy Charter Treaty,

L.  whereas the European Union and the Russian Federation could and should play together an active role in establishing peace and stability on the European continent, in particular in the common neighbourhood, and in other parts of the world,

M.  whereas absolute priority should be given by both partners to finding a solution for the future status of Kosovo which can be accepted by both parties involved in the conflict, and to finding a solution for other ‘frozen conflicts’ in Moldova and in the Southern Caucasus,

N.  whereas the plans to establish components of an American missile defence system in Poland and the Czech Republic and the Russian announcements about the further development of their conventional and nuclear weapon systems have raised serious concern over the preservation of peace and stability on the European continent,

O.  whereas it is important that the EU speak with one voice, show solidarity and display unity in its relations with the Russian Federation, and base those relations on mutual interests and common values,

1.  Reconfirms its conviction that Russia remains an important partner for the purpose of building strategic cooperation, with which the EU shares not only economic and trade interests but also the objective of cooperating closely in the international arena as well as in the common neighbourhood;

2.  Stresses the importance of unity and solidarity among the EU Member States in their relations with Russia; calls on the Russian Government to create together with the European Union the necessary conditions for a rapid start to the negotiations on a new Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and Russia;

3.  Expresses the hope that an agreement can finally be reached on the conditions for the rapid accession of the Russian Federation to the World Trade Organisation;

4.  Welcomes the continuous exchange of views on human rights in Russia as part of the EU-Russia human rights consultations; emphasises, however, that the current situation in Russia gives rise to serious concern in terms of respect for human rights, democracy, freedom of expression and the rights of civil society and individuals to challenge authorities and hold them accountable for their actions;

5.  Expresses its concern about the restriction of democratic freedoms in the run-up to the Duma elections in December 2007 and the presidential elections in March 2008; calls on the Russian authorities to guarantee a free and fair process for both elections in order to ensure that the opposition parties have the possibility to participate in these elections and the opportunity to conduct a competitive election campaign, whilst fully respecting the principle of freedom of expression; stresses that freedom of the media will be of key importance if the elections are to be seen as free and fair; underlines the importance of NGOs independent of national governments for the development of civil society;

6.  Reiterates, moreover, the importance of setting up the Common Economic Space (CES) and further developing the objectives agreed upon in the CES Road Map, especially as regards the creation of an open and integrated market between the EU and Russia;

7.  Stresses the importance of improving the climate for European investment in Russia, which can only be achieved by promoting and facilitating non-discriminatory and transparent business conditions, less bureaucracy and two-way investment; is concerned about the lack of predictability in the application of rules by authorities;

8.  Welcomes the intensified EU-Russia dialogue on energy issues; underlines the importance of energy imports for European economies, representing as they do a potential opportunity for further trade and economic cooperation between the EU and Russia; stresses that the principles of interdependence and transparency should be the basis of such cooperation, together with equal access to markets, infrastructure and investment; calls on the Council and the Commission to ensure that the principles of the Energy Charter Treaty, the Transit Protocol annexed thereto and the G8 conclusions are included in a new Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and Russia, including further cooperation on energy efficiency, energy saving and renewable energy; points out that these principles should be applied to major energy infrastructure projects, such as the Baltic gas pipeline; calls for the European Union to speak to Russia with one voice on these sensitive energy matters;

9.  Appeals to the Governments of Russia and the United States to intensify the discussions on defence and security issues directly or indirectly involving the Member States of the European Union; urges the Governments of both states fully to involve the European Union and its Member States in these discussions and to refrain from any steps and decisions which might be considered a threat to peace and stability on the European continent;

10.  Calls on the Russian Government to make a positive contribution to the efforts of the Contact Group for Kosovo and the European Union to find a sustainable, political solution for the future status of Kosovo which can be accepted by the parties involved in the conflict;

11.  Calls on the Commission and the Council to pursue joint initiatives with the Russian Government aimed at strengthening security and stability in the common neighbourhood, in particular by means of enhanced dialogue over Ukraine and Belarus and joint efforts to finally resolve the frozen conflicts in Nagorno Karabakh as well as in Moldova and Georgia by guaranteeing the full territorial integrity of those states;

12.  Calls on the EU and on Russia, as a member of the UN Security Council, to continue their efforts to find a solution for the Iranian nuclear issue;

13.  Welcomes the initiatives to achieve visa-free travel between the European Union and Russia; calls for further cooperation on illegal immigration, improved checks on identity documents and better information exchange on terrorism and organised crime; emphasises that the Council and the Commission must ensure that Russia complies with all the conditions set in any negotiated agreement on the elimination of visas between the two sides, so as to prevent any breach of security and democracy in Europe;

14.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Governments and Parliaments of the Member States and of the Russian Federation and the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

• [1]     OJ L 327, 28.11.1997, p. 1.