| Author (Person) | Smith, Emily |
|---|---|
| Series Title | European Voice |
| Series Details | Vol.12, No.10, 16.3.06 |
| Publication Date | 16/03/2006 |
| Content Type | News |
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By Emily Smith Date: 16/03/06 Europe will this week be searching for a way to tempt Russia into a new energy partnership, as part of a bid to improve the EU energy market. Commission President José Manuel Barroso is set to meet Russian president Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Friday (17 March), to talk about the Green Paper on a common EU energy policy, published in Brussels last week. The Commission in the discussion paper asked governments to consider a "new initiative" with Russia, based on "security and predictability for both sides, paving the way for the necessary long-term investments... [and] fair and reciprocal access to markets and infrastructure". But observers say Europe needs Russia more than Moscow needs Europe. "It's true that Europe is a secure and stable energy export market, but Russia is not short of customers - look at the booming markets in China and India," said one industry source. As part of Russia's application for membership of the World Trade Organization, the EU negotiated alterations to Russian gas prices, but even that 'carrot' has now gone. A spokesman for Barroso, however, said it was wrong to think Europe was at a disadvantage. "The reality is that about a quarter of our energy imports come from Russia, but three-quarters of their exports come to Europe. It is a balanced relationship; the buyer and the seller have an interest in a stable relationship." He added that the meeting would be "by no means specifically dedicated to energy. We will discuss all general EU-Russia relations issues of mutual interest". But a Russian diplomat in Brussels said the talks would be "devoted to energy issues and a discussion of energy security policy issues". Russia currently heads the G8 group of industrialised countries, who will also meet in Moscow this week to discuss energy. Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs on Tuesday (14 March) said Europe would be stepping up pressure on Russia to ratify the 1994 Energy Charter. Russian ratification, said Piebalgs, would show that Europe and Russia had "a common energy goal... It would be a sign that they will do everything they can to promote sustainable and transparent supply". Article previews a meeting between the President of the EUropean Commission, José Manuel Barroso and Russian President, Vladimir Putin, in Moscow on 17 March 2006. The European Commission had recently published a Green Paper on energy in which it was calling for a 'new initiative' on energy issues with Russia. |
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| Source Link | http://www.european-voice.com/ |
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| Countries / Regions | Russia |
