MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the results of the EU-Russia Summit in Rostov-on-Don of 31 May and 1 June 2010
9.6.2010
pursuant to Rule 110(2) of the Rules of Procedure
Adrian Severin, Hannes Swoboda, Knut Fleckenstein, Kristian Vigenin on behalf of the S&D Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0296/2010
B7‑0296/2010
European Parliament resolution on the results of the EU-Russia Summit in Rostov‑on‑Don of 31 May and 1 June 2010
The European Parliament,
– having regard to having regard to the present Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) between the EU and the Russian Federation, and the negotiations initiated in 2008 on a new EU-Russia treaty,
– having regard to the objectives of the EU and Russia, set out in the joint statement issued following the 11th EU-Russia Summit held in St Petersburg on 31 May 2003, of setting 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 European Parliament’s previous reports and resolutions on Russia and on EU-Russia relations, in particular the one on the EU-Russia Summit in Stockholm adopted in November 2009[1],
– having regard to the outcome of the EU-Russia Summit held in Rostov-on-Don of 31 May and 1 June 2010,
– having regard to the EU-Russia Consultations on Human Rights,
– having regard to Rule 110(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas the relations between the EU and Russia are constantly developing over the past decade, in spite of the severe effects of the economic crisis, leading to deep and comprehensive economic integration and interdependency, which is bound to increase even more in the future,
B. 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,
C. whereas during the Summit in Rostov-on-Don, on the 1st of June 2010, was launched the EU-Russia Partnership for Modernisation and adopted the Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the European Union on the protection of classified information,
D. whereas the 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 and stimulate the investments,
E. whereas security of energy supply is one of the biggest challenges for Europe and one of the major fields of cooperation with Russia; whereas the EU and Russia signed on 16 November 2009 a memorandum enhancing the Early Warning Mechanism to improve prevention and management in case of energy crisis; whereas joint efforts must be made to make full and efficient use of the energy and of the energy transportation systems, both those already existing and those to be further developed,
F. 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,
G. whereas there remains concern about developments in the Russian Federation with regard to respect for and the protection of human rights and respect for commonly agreed democratic principles, rules and procedures; 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 respect for human rights,
H. whereas the EU and Russia could and should together play an active role in establishing peace and stability on the European continent, in particular in the common neighbourhood, and work together to achieve a peaceful settlement under international law of the protracted conflicts in the common neighbourhood (in the South Caucasus and in the Republic of Moldova),
I. whereas the signing of the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) between the Russian Federation and the US on 8th of April 2010, and the rapprochement on non proliferation and the Iran issue, the Middle East Peace Process, Afghanistan/Pakistan prove the enhanced climate of dialogue with Russia on different aspects of foreign and security relations,
1. Reaffirms its belief that Russia remains one of European Union’s most important partners in building strategic cooperation, sharing not only economic and trade interests but also the objective of acting closely together in the common neighbourhood as well as at global level;
2. Notes that the Summit in Rostov-on-Don focused on common challenges facing both the EU and Russia (such as the economic crisis, climate change, energy and energy-security related issues, the long-term objective of visa free travel between EU and Russia, and international and regional issues);
3. Welcomes the decision of 1 June 2010 EU-Russia Summit in Rostov-on-Don to officially launch the Partnership for Modernization, which includes, among its priorities: expanding the opportunities for investment in key sectors driving growth and innovation, enhancing and deepening bilateral trade and economic relations, and promoting small and medium sized enterprises; promoting alignment of technical regulations and standards, as well as a high level of enforcement of intellectual property rights; improving transport; promoting a sustainable low-carbon economy and energy efficiency, as well as international negotiations on fighting climate change; enhancing co-operation in innovation, research and development, and space; ensuring balanced development by addressing the regional and social consequences of economic restructuring; ensuring the effective functioning of the judiciary and strengthening the fight against corruption; promoting people-to-people links, and enhancing dialogue with civil society to foster participation of individuals and business; calls on the Commission and Russian Government to elaborate in more detail the Partnership for Modernisation; welcomes President Medvedev’s commitment to base Russia’s modernisation in the 21st century on democratic values and the rule of law, by building a modern diversified and dynamic economy, and by encouraging the active involvement of civil society;
4. Reiterates the EU engagement to work hard on financial consolidation and competitiveness, and strengthening the economic structures and growth in the framework of the EU 2020 strategy; underlines its confidence the Partnership for Modernisation will promote reform and give renewed momentum to the EU-Russia relationship, develop the mutual lucrative cooperation on trade, economy and energy security, while contributing to the global economic recovery;
5. Expresses its support for developing the future relations with Russia in a more pragmatic way, with maintained focus on concluding the new EU-Russia agreement in due time, and by concentrating on articulate practical co-operation, joint projects and implementation of commitments and agreements made so far; notes the progress in the nine rounds of talks on a new EU-Russia Agreement and calls on the parties to have an approach based on genuinely shared common values and interests;
6. Reiterates its support for the objective of Russia’s accession to the World Trade Organisation which will create a level playing-field for the business communities on both sides and greatly help Russian efforts to build a modern, diversified, high-technology economy; calls on Russia to take the necessary steps to remove the remaining obstacles to the accession process;
7. Reiterates the commitment for the long-term objective of visa free travel between the EU and Russia, based on a step-by-step approach focused on substance and practical progress; calls on the Commission and the Russian Government to finally begin preparing a list of common steps for a visa-free travel regime;
8. Underlines the mutual importance of energy cooperation for Russia and the EU, 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; notes with interest the 21 April 2010 agreement establishing a discount on the price of gas furnished by Russia to Ukraine in the next decade, providing a certain level of security and predictability in the transit process of the energy supplies;
9. Calls on the Council and the Commission to ensure that the principles of the Energy Charter Treaty and the Transit Protocol annexed thereto are included in a new Partnership Agreement between the EU and Russia;
10. Notes with interest the discussions on climate change, how to cooperate concretely on measures to reduce greenhouse gases, energy efficiency and sustainable energy development; underlines the necessity of consensus on how to move forward the international negotiations process on climate change in preparation of the Cancun conference (December 2010);
11. Underlines the importance of the continuous exchange of views on human rights with Russia within the EU-Russia Human Rights Consultations as a way to consolidate our interoperability in all the fields of cooperation and demands an improvement in the format of these meetings in order to gain effectiveness, with special attention for common action against racism and xenophobia and to open this process to an effective input from the European Parliament, the State Duma and the human rights NGOs, whether the dialogue takes place in Russia or in an EU Member State; calls on the Russian authorities to ensure the safety of the human rights defenders;
12. Takes note of the recent legislative developments in Russia: the ratification of Protocol 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights, the extension of the jury trials nationwide, and the confirmation of the moratorium on the death penalty; recalls the concerns on the situation in the Northern Caucasus and the reform of the penitentiary system;
13. Notes with satisfaction, before the G20 Summit in Toronto the consensus between the EU and Russia on the reform of the financial system, expecting the Summit to discuss means to diminish systemic risks, and to agree on the principle that the financial institutions should contribute to the costs of any future financial crisis;
14. Calls on the Presidency, the Council and the Commission to pursue joint initiatives with the Russian Government aimed at strengthening security and stability in the common neighbourhood, in particular by joint actions aiming to resolve the conflict in Republic of Moldova and the exceptional issues in South Caucasus, including the implementation of all earlier commitments;
15. Calls on the EU Member States and the Russian Federation to start negotiations on a reform of the OSCE as part of a new and broad security arrangement for Europe;
16. Welcomes the constructive role played by the Russian Federation in shaping of the draft United Nations Security Council Resolution on Iran;
17. Welcomes the signing of the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) between the Russian Federation and the US on 8th of April 2010; notes with satisfaction the progress achieved in the ongoing dialogue between the Russian Federation and the United States on security issues, including the missile defence shield;
18. Urges the Governments of both Russia and US to fully involve the European Union and its Member States in the discussions concerning the security risks evaluation, contributing in this way to the peace and stability in the world and in Europe particularly;
19. 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, the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
- [1] Texts adopted of that date, P7_TA(2009)0064.