The European Parliament adopted a resolution on the conclusions of the EU/Russia summit (31 May – 1 June).
The text adopted in plenary was tabled in the form of a joint resolution by the S&D, GUE/NGL, ALDE, ECR and EPP groups.
Parliament expresses its satisfaction that the first EU-Russia summit held since the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty was conducted in a constructive manner, making partial progress.
Reaffirming its belief that Russia remains one of the EU's most important partners in building long-term cooperation, Parliament calls on the EU and Russia to intensify their negotiations on a new partnership and cooperation agreement. It reiterates its strong support for a broad, wide-ranging and legally binding agreement that goes beyond economic co-operation alone and also includes, as integral components, the areas of democracy, the rule of law and respect for fundamental human rights. The Commission and the Russian government are urged to develop in more detail the Partnership for Modernisation which will cover both the economy and society.
It welcomes Russia's recent ratification of Protocol 14 to the European Convention on Human Rights, as well as the confirmation of the moratorium on the death penalty which it sees as a further positive development, and hopes that this is the first step in pursuit of Russia's stated intention to improve respect for human rights. Parliament reiterates the call to step up the EU-Russia human rights dialogue and to open this process to effective input from the European Parliament and the Russian State Duma. In this regard, it calls for civil society, NGOs and human rights organisations to be more involved in the bi-annual EU-Russia summits.
Parliament calls on the Russian authorities to put an end to the ongoing and widespread impunity for violence against human rights defenders and, in particular, to make it their priority to end the climate of terror and lawlessness in the North Caucasus and to protect and guarantee the physical integrity of human rights defenders.
Parliament reiterates its support for the objective of Russia's accession to the WTO with a view to helping it attract more foreign investment and diversify its economy. However; it is of the opinion that Russia's establishment of a customs union with Belarus and Kazakhstan may put additional obstacles in the Russian Federation's path towards WTO membership.
It welcomes the signing of a protocol on the protection of classified information which will facilitate cooperation in crisis management, but asks that Parliament be kept fully informed of the substance and scope of this agreement.
Parliament calls on the Council and the Commission to redouble their efforts to solve the problems relating to EU-Russia border crossings, to support concrete projects, to make full use of the Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument and the INTERREG funds for cross-border cooperation and to implement fully the earlier agreement on Siberian overflights.
Welcoming the signing of an agreement on the establishment of an early-warning mechanism on energy security between the EU and Russia, Parliament calls on the Council and the Commission to continue working with the Russian authorities and energy companies in order to avoid any repetition of the delivery cuts that have occurred over the last few years. It reiterates that EU-Russia energy cooperation must be based on the principles of the Energy Charter and the Transit Protocol, which must be incorporated into the new framework agreement between the EU and Russia in order to ensure transparent and fair mutual investment conditions, equal access and a rule-based market. It rules out the use of energy as a foreign policy tool.
Parliament welcomes the signing of the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) between the Russian Federation and the USA on 8 April 2010 and notes with satisfaction the progress achieved in the ongoing dialogue between the Russian Federation and the USA on security issues, including the missile defence shield. It notes the draft European Security Treaty proposed by Russia on 29 November 2009, but points out that this new proposal must not undermine the EU Member States’ current security obligations, and calls on the European Council to develop a common position on it.
Parliament endorses the commitment to 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. It underlines that this dialogue should be in tune with the visa facilitation process for Eastern Partnership countries.
It reiterates its commitment to Georgia's territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders, and calls on all parties to honour their undertakings fully. It points out that the EUMM has a country-wide mandate, and calls for it to be granted unhindered access to Abkhazia and South Ossetia (which is currently refused).
Lastly, Parliament underlines the need to involve Russia in the EU's Baltic Sea Strategy, and to engage swiftly with Russia on improved maritime safety and a high level of environmental protection in the sensitive Baltic Sea.