EU-Russia Summit The news: The Summit provides an opportunity to discuss, at the highest level, EU-Russian cooperation against the backdrop of the global financial and economic crisis. The energy partnership, including European energy security, will also be a key topic. The Summit is also an occasion to review ongoing co-operation under the EU-Russia common spaces. Furthermore, the Summit will take stock of the progress made in the discussions on the New Agreement after the four rounds of negotiations that have been held since the talks were launched last June. International issues are also on the agenda, and are likely to include discussions on protracted conflicts in the common neighbourhood, Euro-Atlantic security and other foreign policy issues such as the Middle East. The background: The EU is by far the largest export market for Russia, while Russia is the EU's third biggest trade partner, with Russian supplies of oil and gas making up a large percentage of Russia's exports to Europe. The EU and Russia concluded a Partnership and Co-operation Agreement in 1994. The June 2008 EU-Russia Summit saw the launch of negotiations on a new EU-Russia agreement. The negotiations were put on hold following the Russia/Georgia conflict, and were resumed following a review by the EU of its relations with Russia. The event: EU-Russia Summit in Khabarovsk, Russia on 21-22 May 2009. Participants from the side of the Commission will be the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, the Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner and the Commissioner for Trade, Baroness Catherine Ashton. Available on EbS + Photo The sources: European Commission: http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/russia/index_en.htm President and Commissioners' websites: http://ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/president/index_en.htm http://ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/ferrero-waldner/index_en.htm http://ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/ashton/index_en.htm The contacts: Christiane Hohmann +32 2 29 91196 christiane.hohmann@ec.europa.eu Amadeu Altafaj Tardio +32 2 295 2658 amadeu.altafaj-tardio@ec.europa.eu Anja Fiedler +32 2 29 80385 anja.fiedler@ec.europa.eu 13, Brussel - Hoofdinhoud

The Summit provides an opportunity to discuss, at the highest level, EU-Russian cooperation against the backdrop of the global financial and economic crisis. The energy partnership, including European energy security, will also be a key topic.

The Summit is also an occasion to review ongoing co-operation under the EU-Russia common spaces. Furthermore, the Summit will take stock of the progress made in the discussions on the New Agreement after the four rounds of negotiations that have been held since the talks were launched last June.

International issues are also on the agenda, and are likely to include discussions on protracted conflicts in the common neighbourhood, Euro-Atlantic security and other foreign policy issues such as the Middle East.

The EU is by far the largest export market for Russia, while Russia is the EU’s third biggest trade partner, with Russian supplies of oil and gas making up a large percentage of Russia’s exports to Europe.

The EU and Russia concluded a Partnership and Co-operation Agreement in 1994. The June 2008 EU-Russia Summit saw the launch of negotiations on a new EU-Russia agreement. The negotiations were put on hold following the Russia/Georgia conflict, and were resumed following a review by the EU of its relations with Russia.

EU-Russia Summit in Khabarovsk, Russia on 21-22 May 2009. Participants from the side of the Commission will be the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, the Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner and the Commissioner for Trade, Baroness Catherine Ashton.

Available on EbS + Photo

European Commission:

http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/russia/index_en.htm

President and Commissioners' websites:

http://ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/president/index_en.htm

http://ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/ferrero-waldner/index_en.htm

http://ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/ashton/index_en.htm

Christiane Hohmann       +32 2 29 91196              christiane.hohmann@ec.europa.eu

Amadeu Altafaj Tardio    +32 2 295 2658              amadeu.altafaj-tardio@ec.europa.eu

Anja Fiedler                   +32 2 29 80385             anja.fiedler@ec.europa.eu