The European Commission will visit President Vladimir Putin and the Russian government on 22-23 April in Moscow to usher in the new and reinforced relationship between the enlarged EU and Russia from 1 May. Discussions will focus on the future of the EU/Russia relationship notably the establishment of the common spaces agreed by the EU and Russia at the St. Petersburg Summit in June 2003.

President Romano Prodi, Vice-President Loyola de Palacio and Commissioners Chris Patten, Günter Verheugen, Margot Wallstrom, Philippe Busquin, Pascal Lamy and Antonio Vitorino, will hold discussions with President Putin and the Russian government in Moscow on the eve of the EU’s historic eastern enlargement, to welcome the EU’s expansion, to underline the opportunities created by the enlargement for EU/Russia relations and to confirm the shared wish of the EU and Russia to create a new Europe without dividing lines. The visit to Russia is unique in the history of the European Commission and reflects the importance of relations between Russia and the enlarged EU in the new Europe. The visit follows the adoption by the Commission of a Communication on EU relations with Russia on 9 February, which recognised the interdependence of the EU and Russia and called for the intensification of co-operation.

Discussions will primarily focus on the establishment of a series of EU/Russia common spaces, as agreed at the St. Petersburg Summit in June 2003 , and on the launch of the EU/Russia Permanent Partnership Councils, which will bring together the EU Troika of Ministers and Russia on all key matters of mutual interest. The Commission will propose that work is intensified to effectively build a common economic space (including and with specific reference to environment and energy); a common space of freedom, security and justice; a common space of co-operation in the field of external security; and a common space of research and education, including cultural aspects. The objective is to agree the principal means to create the four common spaces at the EU/Russia Summit on 21 May 2004.

In the context of work to create the common economic space, the Commission will underline the benefit of enlargement for Russia and for EU/Russia economic relations, of taking forward bilateral negotiations for Russia’s World Trade Organisation (WTO) accession. It will also recall the importance of cooperation on energy and transport issues, including the Energy Dialogue and satellite navigation (Galileo). The Commission will also call for increased cooperation on environmental matters, including an assessment of the prospects for ratification of the Kyoto protocol by Russia.

In the context of work to create the common space of freedom, security and justice, the Commission will underline the common values on which EU/Russia relations are built (democracy, rule of law, human rights). The Commission will recall the EU’s readiness to support genuine efforts to find a peaceful, lasting settlement in Chechnya. It will also flag the importance of work on Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) including implementation of the Europol-Russia agreement, the conclusion of negotiations on readmission as well as signature and ratification of outstanding border agreements with Estonia and Latvia. The Commission will also look forward to the launch of EU/Russia negotiations on visa facilitation as a first step to enhance people-to-people contacts.

In the context of work to create a common space of research and education, including culture, the Commission will call for stepped-up co-operation on science and technology, education and culture, including Russian participation in EU education exchange programmes.

Finally, in taking forward work on the common space of external security, the Commission will recall the shared responsibility of the enlarged EU and Russia for international order based on effective multilateralism, press for increased cooperation to promote stability in the EU/Russia common neighbourhood and welcome cooperation to combat new threats, including terrorism and proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD), for which Russia and the EU share responsibility at both global and regional levels.