MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

12.6.2006

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, Reino Paasilinna and Hannes Swoboda
on behalf of the PSE Group
on relations with the Russian Federation

B6‑0349/2006

European Parliament resolution on relations with the Russian Federation

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, on the one hand, and the Russian Federation, on the other, which entered into force on 1 December 1997[1],

–  having regard to the objective of the EU and Russia of setting up a common economic area, a common area of freedom, security and justice, an area of cooperation in the field of external security and an area of research and education, including cultural aspects,

–  having regard to its earlier resolutions on the relations between the European Union and the Russian Federation, in particular its resolution of 26 May 2005,

–  having regard to the outcome of the 17th EU-Russia Summit held on 26 May 2005 in Sochi,

–   having regard to the signing of agreements between the European Union and the Russian Federation on simplifying the visa regime and on readmission,

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

A.  whereas good-neighbourly relations and close cooperation between the EU and Russia are crucial to stability, security and prosperity across the whole of the European continent,

B.  whereas these relations must be based on common values, in particular with regard to respect for fundamental human rights, a transparent and well-functioning social market economy and respect for the rule of law and democracy,

C.  whereas the Russian Federation’s presidency of the G8 and chairmanship of the Council of Europe will give it a great responsibility in the further development of transparent and reliable economic relations and in the establishment of stability, security, democracy and respect for human rights,

D.  whereas in the field of energy in particular, relations must be further enhanced on the basis of transparency and improved governance of this sector, reliability of supply, non‑discriminatory use of transit facilities and an improved climate for further investment,

E.  whereas further progress must be made in the realisation of the four common areas as a solid basis for the negotiation and conclusion of a new agreement, replacing the existing Partnership and Cooperation Agreement when it expires, thus providing a comprehensive and durable framework for the strategic partnership between Russia and the EU,

F.  whereas continuing importance should be given to the EU-Russia Human Rights Consultations as an essential part of the EU-Russian partnership, and whereas the free functioning of domestic and international human rights organisations and other NGOs should be regarded as an important component of the common area in this sphere,

G.  whereas in recent years democracy has continued to deteriorate substantially in Russia, owing in particular to increasing government control over major TV and radio stations, the spread of self-censorship among the print media, the closure of independent media, restrictions on the right to organise public demonstrations, a worsening climate for NGOs, involving cases of harassment of human rights activists, and increased political control of the judiciary,

H.  whereas increased cooperation should take place to strengthen democracy, security and stability in the common neighbourhood, in particular through joint activities to establish democracy and respect for basic human rights in Belarus and joint efforts finally to resolve the frozen conflicts in Moldova, Georgia and Nagorno Karabakh,

I.  whereas Russia is actively cooperating with the other permanent member states of the UN Security Council, Germany and the European Union to avoid Iran’s coming into possession of nuclear weapons,

1.  Stresses the importance of a strengthened and enhanced partnership between the European Union and the Russian Federation based on interdependence and shared interests in the field of economic and trade relations, and with a joint duty to secure stability, democracy and respect for human rights on their territory as well as in their common neighbourhood;

2.  Emphasises the need to work together with Russia as a necessary strategic partner for providing peace, stability and security, and fighting international terrorism and violent extremism, as well as addressing ‘soft security’ issues such as environmental and nuclear hazards, drugs, arms and human trafficking, and cross-border organised crime in the European neighbourhood, in cooperation with the OSCE and other international fora;

3.  Stresses that the EU-Russia partnership can be considerably enhanced if progress is made in the implementation of the Road Maps towards the four common areas, and in particular in cooperation in the fields of energy, establishing democracy and respect for human rights, and reinforcing peace, stability and security in the common neighbourhood;

4.  Welcomes the proposal of the Finnish Presidency to give priority to the Northern Dimension in the programme for its Council Presidency; stresses that this could be an important tool for enhancing the EU-Russia partnership, for which concrete proposals and projects should be drawn up with the necessary accompanying financing;

5.  Calls on the Russian Government to honour its responsibility as President of the G8 and as Chairman of the Council of Europe to achieve tangible results in the further development of transparent and reliable economic relations and in the establishment of stability, security, democracy and respect for human rights;

6.  Also calls on the Russian Government in this framework to contribute to the intensification of the EU-Russia Human Rights Consultations as an essential part of the EU-Russian partnership and to allow the free functioning of domestic and international human rights organisations and other NGOs;

7.  Stresses that interdependence and common interests in the energy sector constitute a cornerstone of EU-Russia relations; insists that these relations be further developed on the basis of transparency, market principles, non-discrimination, predictability and reliability, economic and environmental cooperation, and investment security;

8.  Calls at the same time on the Commission and the Member States actively to support the development of alternative supply sources by improving production and export capacities in other countries and upgrading energy transportation infrastructure in producer and transit countries, with the objectives of avoiding oligopolistic market structures and diversifying the European Union’s supply;

9.  Stresses that the same interdependence exists as regards the further development of transport and information networks;

10.  Calls on the Commission and the Council to develop joint initiatives with the Russian Government to strengthen democracy, security and stability in the common neighbourhood, in particular through joint activities to establish democracy and respect for basic human rights in Belarus, and joint efforts finally to resolve the frozen conflicts in Moldova, Georgia an Nagorno Karabakh;

11.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the President, Government and Parliament of the Russian Federation.

• [1]  OJ L 327, 28.11.1997, p. 1.