| Author (Person) | Beatty, Andrew |
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| Series Title | European Voice |
| Series Details | Vol.12, No.20, 24.5.06 |
| Publication Date | 24/05/2006 |
| Content Type | News |
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By Andrew Beatty Date: 24/05/06 Energy will top the agenda when the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso and Javier Solana, the EU's foreign policy chief, meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday (25 May). The EU is pressing Russia to ratify the Energy Charter Treaty, which diplomats hope will bolster EU energy security and limit the risk of political disputes affecting supply. A Russian decision to cut gas supplies to Ukraine earlier this year resulted in shortages in several EU member states. The cut prompted a wholesale review of the EU's energy security policy. Diplomats said the treaty could help ensure the uninterrupted transit of gas from Russia to the EU. But Russia has so far refused to do so, insisting that the treaty, which dates from 1994, is antiquated. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was questioned behind closed doors by members of the European Parliament on 18 May on whether Russia would open up its energy markets to further competition, but gave few indications that a deal on the energy treaty was imminent. "Some are more optimistic, some are more pessimistic," said a diplomat from one EU member state. "I think that Russia has too little to win [from ratifying]. This is a framework for how business should be done. It would be a limitation of freedom for Russia." Others said that the EU had little leverage over Russia on the matter. But sources close to the Kremlin said that as Russia was keen that tomorrow's (25 May) EU-Russia summit and the G8 summit, in July, show Russia to be an effective and reliable partner, it could sign the energy treaty at the G8 summit. Russia's ambassador to the EU, Vladimir Chizhov, said this week that Russia might ratify the protocol if three conditions were met. Chizhov said the treaty should cover nuclear energy as well as oil and gas, it should deal with transit within EU states and it should cover investment in energy infrastructure. But diplomats said that there was little chance of a deal being agreed in the short term. The leaders will also discuss at their meeting in the Black Sea town of Sotschi what will replace the EU-Russia Partnership and Co-operation agreement when it expires at the end of next year. According to Chizhov, Russia would like to see a "treaty of strategic partnership". But some diplomats expressed doubt that Russia wants dramatically to redefine relations. "I think that they just want to have some signs of progress," said one diplomat. Another issue that is expected to come up at the summit is an agreement on easing EU visa restrictions for Russians. An accord agreed last October is expected to be signed, but it may be months before it is implemented. Article takes a look at energy issues in the European Union's relations with Russia of their summit on 25 May 2006. |
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| Source Link | http://www.european-voice.com/ |
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| Subject Categories | Energy |
| Countries / Regions | Russia |
